Call for crime victims’ compensation cap to be lifted as families say current amount is ‘insult’

Campaigners have called for the 30-year freeze on compensation for crime victims to be lifted, saying the amount is insufficient to plan for the future.

The current maximum rate of £500,000 was set by the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) thirty years ago in April 1996.

It is paid to victims of crimes who suffer severe life-changing injuries, including brain damage and paralysis.

This money is paid to cover both their care and their long-term future, as their injuries often mean they are unable to work.

However, new figures show that if the maximum amount rises in line with inflation it will be more than double the current limit – £1,015,000.

One campaigner said the current amount was an “insult” to victims and families.

Those affected and advocates expressed concern that the money would run out, leaving them without vital support and affecting their overall quality of life.

Craig Lewis-Williams, 50, from North Wales, suffered brain damage after being attacked while walking home in November 2021. This left him unable to walk, unable to swallow, and had memory problems.

Later, during his treatment, he suffered a stroke and his left side was paralyzed.

Mr Lewis-Williams is now fed through a tube and has carers visit six times a day.

The attacker, Adam Chamberlin, of Llay, was jailed for more than a year after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Mr Lewis-Williams, who was a warehouse manager before the attack, received the maximum payout from CICA on appeal. But his wife Anna fears this won’t go far enough.

Ms Lewis-Williams, 45, told the Press Association: “Things like wheelchairs and minibuses will need to be replaced, they are big things that need to be paid for and they are not things that ordinary people need.

“You can’t go out and buy a car for £500 or £1,000, whereas we have to adapt everything.

“This won’t last long. He just turned 50 and the life expectancy for a man is 75-80, so there’s another 25-30 years to go.

“You’ve got a car, you’ve got a family, prices are much higher than they were 30 years ago, we’re facing a cost of living crisis and what’s going on in Iran, money needs to last longer.”

Nichola, from north-west England, has the same fears for her adopted teenage daughter Lou.

The middle school student has learning disabilities caused by brain damage caused by her biological mother taking drugs while she was pregnant and drugging her after she was born.

While Nichola says Lou “defied the odds” and went to a mainstream school, she says she suffers from mental processing difficulties, mood disorders and behavioral problems.

“The assessments are that he will likely have difficulty maintaining his job in the long term due to interdisciplinary and interpersonal relationships,” Nichola said.

“He has a significant amount of money, which may seem like a lot to others, but it will last him a lifetime and he is very young, so he may have to last another 80 years.

“If you’re someone who’s struggling to hold on to a job, there’s not going to be much going on in retirement when you retire. When you’re working, you’re probably going from job to job, so there are gaps.

“You’re probably a candidate for part-time low-paid work because you didn’t get your qualifications, so it doesn’t make much sense for you to suffer a loss of earnings for your whole life as a result of what happened.”

Neil Sugarman, a lawyer who practices criminal injuries and is a former president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil), said the anniversary should be a “wake-up call”.

Mr Sugarman said: “The 30th anniversary of the introduction of the maximum compensation of £500,000 for the most seriously injured innocent victims of crime should serve as a wake-up call to the Government that this is no longer acceptable.

“It is an insult to adults and children who have suffered catastrophic brain damage, been confined to a wheelchair, or had their lives ruined by abuse, that through no fault of their own they have to make do with this amount for life.”

Kim Harrison, a former president of Apil, called for an immediate review of the border. He said those affected had been ignored “for too long”.

Ms Harrison said: “While setting a cap on compensation for survivors of crime is not perfect, it must at least be recognized that the amount set when the cap was set in 1996 will not go that far in today’s money three decades later.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with all victims of violent crime.

“With more than £164 million paid out by the taxpayer-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in 2024/25, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure brave survivors receive the support they deserve.”