New year is the time to make resolutions; time for a fresh start; time to move on. A lot of people feel mentally stronger in January. Have you decided now is the time to deal with something that has been troubling you? While there is no data available on which month of the year people report the most crimes we know that getting through the festive season is tough for many, but it is particularly so for people who have suffered family trauma. The Office for National Statistics census 2021 (which is the most recent report available) says “It is possible to identify around 227,500 child abuse offences recorded by the police in the year ending March 2019” [in England and Wales].
Every person who suffers child abuse has the right to be a survivor, rather than a victim; to move on and to thrive. If you have taken the decision to report historic abuse to the police you may feel the New Year is the time to do so. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a government funded scheme to which survivors of historic abuse can apply for compensation.
At Winston Solicitors we have specialists who can help you navigate the claims process and have knowledge and experience of the scheme. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme covers historic abuse in the UK from August 1964 onwards. The time limits to make abuse claims under the scheme start from the date the crime is reported to the police, not the date it happened.
If you would like more information on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme or to start making a claim you can contact Winston Solicitors on 0113 320 5000 or email cica@winstonsolicitors.co.uk
Help and support for child abuse survivors can be found at:
Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse (HAVOCA)
