Justice Reforms To Curb Payouts To Criminals

Criminals will be stopped from claiming compensation for injuries and psychological damage as part of a new initiative to be announced by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.

It is part of a consultation in which the Government is keen to refocus the taxpayer-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Those serving prison sentences can currently make a claim but under the proposals, only those who are "blameless victims of crime" would be eligible.In the last 10 years, it is thought 20,000 claimants with criminal records have received more than £75m in compensation. In 2010/11, total payouts under the scheme cost the Government almost £300m.
The Ministry of Justice hopes it will be able to reduce the long backlog in compensation claims by completely removing criminals from being eligible.
The plans will also mean offenders have to contribute to the cost of victim support services, which are also currently funded by the taxpayer.
The Government wants to raise an extra £50m from offenders through the so-called "victim surcharge" and other financial measures.
It says it ultimately intends funding for victims' services to remain unchanged, which has been criticised by some of those offering support to victims of crime.
Kieron Bimpson has just opened a support centre in Liverpool, which is named in memory of his daughter Francesca who died after an arsonist set fire to her home in Everton.
Since her death, Mr Bimpson has been raising money to open the new centre.
He claims the new proposals have less to do with making criminals pay and more to do with Government cost cutting.
"I think it's an absolutely ridiculous idea," he told Sky News.
"Obviously there isn't a lot of money to go round and I think the Government is on a cost-cutting exercise to try and recoup the costs that they have given away to the bank by making victims suffer again.
"I think criminals haven't got any money anyway so I don't see where the money is going to come from."
The new proposals would see the victim surcharge rise from a flat rate of £15 to £120 and would apply to every offender.
At the moment, the most serious offenders do not pay the levy because it only applies to those who are given fines in court.
Mr Clarke is also planning to increase speeding fixed penalty fines from £60 to £100, with the £5,000 cap on fines which can be levied by magistrates' courts removed.
Source http://news.sky.com