Campaigner welcomes Government review into compensation for victims of crime

CHILD abuse survivor Sammy Woodhouse has welcomed a Government review in to its Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) — which she began campaigning against by waiving her right to anonymity.
Sammy WoodhouseSammy Woodhouse
Sammy Woodhouse

This week, the Government committed to a full review after Sammy and Rotherham MP Sarah Champion began lobbying for change around 18 months ago.

Sammy said: “This is the campaign I waived my anonymity as a rape victim for to expose the criminal injuries compensation scheme — so this is a real personal one for me.

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“We are asking for a complete overhaul of the system and the Minister has agreed to it, which is great.”

Sammy's calls came after her claim for compensation was turned down — on the grounds that she had consented to her abuse.

The 33-year-old, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, was told by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) that she had been not “manipulated” by gang ringleader Arshid Hussain, who was jailed for 35 years in 2016 for 23 offences against multiple victims.

The mother-of-two was one of almost 700 refused payments by CICA — and her story sparked national outrage. 

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Sammy eventually won her appeal against CICA’s decision and worked with Rape Crisis to draw up CICS recommendations.

On Tuesday, MP Edward Argar, parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, committed to review CICS with a view to the impact of the scheme on victims of child sexual abuse. 

He restated a commitment to remove the “same roof rule”, which denied compensation to victims who lived with their abuser prior to 1979. 

The minister said he had told officials to re-consider time limits on making applications to the scheme and on unspent convictions. 

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Sammy said the news was “a step in the right direction” and reaffirmed her decision to go public.

She added: “I have no regrets about waiving my anonymity.

“It’s been tough, it’s had its challenges but I just try to focus on the positives and remember it’s worth it — and this is the proof.”

Ms Champion said: “I am delighted that the Government has committed to reviewing the CICS in full. 

“For years, CICS has proven inaccessible and retraumatising for victims and survivors. 

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“Instead of helping them to use the scheme, hurdles are put in their way. “Too many have been wrongly denied compensation in the past.

“In Rotherham, survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE) have been denied compensation because of unspent convictions gained when they were exploited and coerced into criminal activity by grooming gangs. 

“It’s also welcome the Government will finally abandon the ‘same roof rule’. This has cruelly denied many victims.

“It is positive that victims will be able to reapply if they were previously denied under this rule. 

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“In the past, we have heard plenty of warm words from the Government on reforming the compensation scheme. 

“I will continue to campaign until the Government puts the needs of victims and survivors first.”

In 2017/18, CICA made decisions on over 40,000 applications, and paid out £154 million in compensation awards.