- The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a state-funded compensation scheme for victims of crimes of violence within the UK (even if the person committing the assault was not actually prosecuted by the police).
Where sexual harassment amounts to a crime of violence, someone who is physically and or/ psychologically injured because of it, may apply to the CICA for compensation . There does not necessarily have to have been physical contact - some threats of violence will qualify for an award. - In order to make a claim:
- the assault must have been reported to the police.
- medical attention must have been sought for the personal injury.
- the assault must have occurred within the last 2 years.
- the applicant must not have contributed to the incident in any way.
- the applicant must not have been participating in any violence that took place during the incident.
- The CICA can award compensation for:
- mental or physical pain and suffering awarded on a tariff basis. (The amount will not therefore be equivalent to an award of compensation made by a court or tribunal.)
- loss of earnings (if the victim has lost earnings or been unable to work for at least 28 weeks form the date of injury).
- special expenses (e.g., specialist medical treatment).
- Application forms can be obtained from:
- Legal help may be available for financially eligible clients for to recover part of the costs and disbursements of a solicitor instructed in a CICA claim.
NB:
- Any award made by the CICA will be reduced by the full value of any award that the applicant receives from the employment tribunal or civil court.
- Benefits are deducted from such compensation.
|
