Offences against Children: Criminal Injuries Compensation

We recognise the importance of effective support and redress for victims of sexual abuse. Criminal injuries compensation is part of a wider package of government-funded general and specialist support for victims of crime. Victims, including children, who suffer serious physical or mental injury as a direct result of a violent crime such as sexual abuse, may be able to access compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).

The first Scheme, dating from 1964, included an eligibility rule, commonly known as the ‘same roof’ rule. This rule prevented some victims of violent crime from receiving compensation if their assailant was a family member living with them at the time of the incident. The rule was changed in 1979 so that child victims of incidents that occurred on/after 1 October 1979 were no longer affected by it.

Following a Court of Appeal judgment in 2018, the Scheme was amended to remove the pre-1979 same roof rule. In addition, provision was made for new applicants and applicants who had previously been refused an award under the rule to submit a claim. The amended Scheme came into force in June 2019. More than £21 million compensation has been paid to those affected by the rule since the amendments came into effect.

There are time limits to apply for compensation under the Scheme. Following removal of the pre-1979 same roof rule, the time limit to apply was two years from the date the amended Scheme came into force. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which administers the Scheme, has discretion to consider applications made outside of the time limit in exceptional circumstances. This includes applications relating to the same roof rule and where the applicant was a child at the time of the incident giving rise to the injury.

Having concluded the previous administration’s review of the Scheme in April 2025, this Government is now considering how it can best provide the support that victims need and deserve. We are also driving other improvements for victims, including working on a new Victims’ Code, to raise awareness of compensation.