New team at MoJ announces first rethink

The Ministry of Justice has announced its first rethink since Ken Clarke and Jonathan Djanogly were swept aside in last week’s government reshuffle, and non-lawyer Chris Grayling became justice secretary.

Solicitor and Conservative MP Helen Grant, one of two new justice ministers with barrister Jeremy Wright, told a parliamentary committee yesterday that the government wanted to reconsider its proposals to cut criminal compensation payments to victims of many less serious injuries.

Under the plans, victims who currently receive payments of £2,000 or less from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme would get nothing.

Those who get £2,500 will get £1,000, and those who get £5,500 would get £3,500. Awards of £11,000 and above will not be cut.

“We do not believe that small compensation payments after the event are the most effective way to help victims recover from the effects of crime,” MoJ officials said in a consultation paper published in February.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said today: “The government is committed to providing the best possible support for victims of crime, maintaining compensation for the most seriously affected.

“We have listened to the views of parliament and will consider our next steps. Our plans will reform the criminal injuries compensation scheme to put it on a sustainable financial footing.”

Karl Tonks (pictured), president of APIL, which has campaigned against the changes, said: “This decision will surely be of great relief to many victims of crime who have been injured through no fault of their own.

“It’s only right that, as a modern society, we continue to support innocent victims properly and provide them with the redress they need to help them get back on their feet.

“Falling victim to crime can be a distressing experience and people can suffer real financial difficulties if they are unable to return to work while they are recovering.

“It is imperative, now, that the new team at the Ministry of Justice continues in this vein and listens to the needs of the innocent victim in all its reforms of civil justice.”