Employers should pay victims of crime at work, says charity

EMPLOYERS should be made to pay compensation for people who suffer crimes at work to leave enough money from the criminal injuries compensation schemes for other victims, a charity has suggested.

Victim Support Scotland has recommended a separate scheme be introduced north of the Border in the face of proposed Westminster cuts that would leave hundreds receiving no money or seeing their payouts slashed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The charity believes making employers pay where crimes are committed against people at work would be one way of balancing the books.

Dorothy Cassidy, policy officer at Victim Support Scotland, said: “That is the nub of what we are suggesting. It’s not that that is a specific area that we believe should be addressed, but it is an option. There are other areas where savings could potentially be made, such as by reducing the tariff system so it is less complex – there are currently 25 different bands.”

Victim Support Scotland believes the compensation system should be changed to make it quicker and simpler.

However, they have concerns about plans that could see £50 million to £60m, 25 to 30 per cent, taken out of the system.

“We do feel reform is necessary, the system is not working as it is,” Ms Cassidy said. “It’s about identifying changes that lead to the most productive system possible.”

The Scottish Government, which has launched its own separate consultation on a Victims and Witnesses Bill, has responded to Westminster. It highlighted a number of concerns about the proposals, but not the reduction in payments. A spokeswoman said: “We want to see a less bureaucratic scheme that is focused on victims seriously affected by crime and which ensures victims get compensation quickly.

“We have responded to the UK government’s consultation outlining our concerns around their proposals for victims to pay up-front for medical reports and introducing a six-month residency requirement for non-EU/EEA nationals.”

She added: “There is support within the sector for a separate Scottish compensation scheme and that is something we will consider in the longer term as we work to improve the support available to victims in Scotland.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

More than 3,000 victims of crime get compensation ranging from £1,000 to £250,000 each year in Scotland.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority does not break down claims by whether the victims were at work or not.

However, the National Audit Office has previously estimated that about four per cent of claims are made by police officers and 0.2 per cent by firefighters. Victim Support Scotland says other professions, such as prison workers and security staff, are also responsible for a “significant” number of claims.

Ms Cassidy, said: “If it permits victims better outcomes, we We believe the current system is not working effectively, and we want a more efficient, effective system that compensates as many victims as possible.

“What Westminster is proposing would see 50 per cent of victims of crime unable to access compensation or see their rewards reduced.”