Criminal Injuries Claims (CICA)

If you are the survivor of a violent crime, you may be entitled to compensation.

If you are the survivor of a violent crime, you may be entitled to compensation via the Government funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICA).

The effects of physical, psychological and sexual abuse can have far reaching implications. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to ensure you receive compensation that can enable you to move forward, seek any required support and rebuild your life.

Through the CICA scheme, survivors can claim for acts of abuse and psychological injuries suffered as well as loss of earnings.

Claims are made to the Government scheme and do not involve the perpetrator of the crime, so claims can be made in confidence without the worry of having further contact with the perpetrator/s.

What is a CICA claim?

This is a Government funded scheme designed to compensate blameless survivors of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales.

A ‘crime of violence’ is defined as either:

A physical attack
An act or omission of a violent nature that causes physical injury to a person
A threat against a person, causing fear of immediate violence in circumstances that would cause a person of reasonable firmness to be put in such fear
Sexual assault
Arson or fire-raising

If you have been subjected to any of the above you may be able to make a claim. The types of payments which are made include:

Injury Payments (for the acts of the abuse and psychological injuries)
Loss of Earnings Payments
Special Expenses Payments

How can Jordans Solicitors help?

Jordans have experience in dealing with a wide range of Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme applications and we have a dedicated abuse department that specialise in these cases.

Our expert team of lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. They can explain the legal technicalities of the scheme and maximise the award that you may be entitled to.

If you believe you are the survivor of a crime of violence, speak to a member of our team today on our dedicated department number 0800 9555 094.

It would be helpful (though not essential) to have to hand when you call your Unique Police Crime Reference Number, the name of the police station you reported to and the name of the officer who dealt with your incident. However if you do not have any of these , we can still assist.

FAQs

We regularly secure increased awards for our clients, either via the CICA’s review procedure or by appearing before a tribunal at an Appeal hearing. This is because the CICA will often make an award for the physical injuries sustained or the act of the abuse but fail to make an award for the psychological injuries and loss of earnings suffered by a survivor’s inability to work in the past and also in the future.
If you have made an application or another firm has applied on your behalf and you are unhappy with the outcome (and you are within time to appeal the decision), we may be able to have your case reconsidered by the CICA or tribunal service.
If you suffered abuse as an adult you must submit your application to the CICA within 2 years of the incident of period of abuse.
If you suffered abuse as a child and a report was made to the Police before your 18th birthday, you have until your 20th birthday to make an application to the CICA.
If you suffered abuse as a child and a report was made to the Police as an adult, you have 2 years from the date of the report to the Police to make an application to the CICA.
If you are outside of the time period to bring a claim, the CICA may use their discretion to consider applications submitted late. They will consider whether there were exceptional reasons why an application could not have been made earlier.
In many cases a person has been unable to make an earlier report due to medical or psychological injuries. In these circumstances please contact us and we will advise you if you are able to make a late application.
You are able to make an application yourself, however, claims administered under the scheme can be quite complex.
If your application does not meet the criteria, your claim could be rejected. This is why we recommend that you seek legal advice before submitting your application, as we can advise whether you are eligible to make an application under the scheme, as there are a number of criteria that must be met to enable an application to succeed.
For example, in addition to being a survivor of violent crime, you must have made a report to the Police, but there is no need for there to be a conviction. We can also explain the legal technicalities and maximise any award that you may be entitled to.
If the CICA decide that you are eligible to make a claim, they will make an award of damages. However, they often fail to include an award for any psychological injury and loss of earnings. As experienced specialists, we regularly secure higher awards for clients, either via the review procedure or at an appeal hearing.

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Our reviews

Johnny Kaye

Johnny dealt with my CICA claim. He was so understanding, kind and professional. Thank you so much!

Jane Matthews

Jane always kept me up to date on the progress of my claim from start to finish.

Johnny Kaye

I have to say the service delivered by Johnny Kaye who has been my point of contact has been second to none. A very important part of this service has been for me someone who is compassionate understanding, friendly that’s honest about what they can do and respectful of my personal challenges.

Jane Matthews

I can’t express enough how amazing you and your team have been in resolving my claim. The outcome was more than I could have hoped for. Finally it will give me closure.

Johnny Kaye

They have been thorough, professional and simply awesome. It might have been a long road we were on but every time I phoned for updates someone was always happy to comply. Having nothing but my best interests in the forefront.. we won! And it was so worth the wait.

Jane Matthews

Very good solicitor dealt with a very sensitive case for me I found them caring and there to listen and give sound advice and got a fair result. Would highly recommend.

Johnny Kaye

It was a particularly delicate matter and Johnny dealt with us and other parties in a sympathetic and professional way, and explained the whole process so we understood what was happening and what was expected from us. We highly recommend Jordans Solicitors.

Jane Matthews

I would like to thank you for your hard work and support during this difficult time you have been outstanding.

Johnny Kaye

Johnny Kaye represented and advised me in regards to compensation through the HIA Redress Board. He was knowledgeable polite and patient throughout the whole process! It made what I thought may be a stressful process anything but.

Jane Matthews

Jane Matthews was very helpful in all aspects of my case and is highly recommended.

Johnny Kaye

The work you have done for me, and indeed many others, has been exemplary, I would certainly recommend to anyone who needs your help. Your professionalism, dedication and integrity are beyond reproach. Every member of staff I have dealt, including you, have been extremely helpful and friendly.

Jane Matthews

I am satisfied with my outcome and I would like to thank you all for the professional service I received, especially from Jane Matthews. She was so clever and wise, a true brief, straight and to the point.

Johnny Kaye

Thank you for everything you’ve done, you’ve been amazing.

Jane Matthews

Jane Matthews was very helpful in all aspects of my case and is highly recommended.

Johnny Kaye

I would recommend Jordan's Solicitors to any client who needs their assistance. They provide excellent services, in a highly professional and respectful manner. I am extremely happy with his work and advice on my behalf.

Johnny Kaye

From the day we first reached out for help, Johnny Kaye and his team, took such good care of me, he would send emails keeping us up to date at all times.

Johnny Kaye

Excellent service couldn't be more pleased kept me informed every step of the way special thank you to Johnny kaye got to be 5 stars

Johnny Kaye

Johnny has always replied to any email i have sent promptly. At the start of this process i was sending several emails a day submitting evidence to support my claim.

Meet the team

Client A

Our client had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of different family members and had two claims which had been rejected by the CICA, on the basis that there was no evidence that a crime of violence occurred. We argued that she met the eligibility criteria and the tribunal was satisfied that, on the balance of probabilities, she had been the survivor of two crimes of violence and her appeal was successful.

Client B

Our client suffered non-recent sexual abuse by a member of his family, causing severe psychological injuries. The CICA rejected his claim on the basis that he had failed to make his application within two years of reporting the assault to the police. We argued that our client’s psychological injuries had prevented him from making a claim within two years. The tribunal was satisfied that this was the case and his appeal was successful.

Client C

Our client was sexually abused by her step-father during the 1970’s when she was 7 to 10 years old. He was convicted of the offences he committed against her. Our client suffered psychological injuries arising from the abuse. The Authority accepted that our client was entitled to the highest award for mental injury and loss of earnings. The award made to our client was £153,000.

Client D

Our client was physically and sexually abused by his father and uncle. He suffered psychological injuries and loss of earnings due to his inability to work. Our client was awarded over £220,000.