VS responds to criminal court statistics

31 March 2016

Mark Castle, Chief Executive for the independent charity Victim Support, said:

“These figures show that, after waiting unacceptably long times for cases to come to court, many victims then face shockingly long and uncertain waits for compensation. The delay can serve as a constant reminder to victims of what they have suffered, leaving them unable to move on with their lives.

“It is appalling that only 49 per cent of compensation is paid in the 18 months after being awarded by the court. Victim Support believes that courts should be empowered to make payment direct to the victim, then recover the funds from the offender – and that this change should be enshrined in the new Victims’ Law.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

*’Criminal court statistics (quarterly): October to December 2015’ can be found on the GOV.UK website.