16 January 2004
Advocates for victims of crime have criticised government plans to fund an increase in compensation by levying a surcharge on offenders.
Commenting on a Home Office proposal to place a surcharge of between £5 and £30 on criminal convictions and fixed penalty notices in England and Wales, Paul Fawcett, head of communications at Victim Support, told Public Finance that hypothecating fines called into question the government's commitment to victims.
'We think that if providing help and support to victims is something society – and for that read government – is prepared to do then really it should be core funded. Why should it be that victim services are dependent on a levy on offenders?' he said.
The proposal was included in a Home Office consultation paper, published on January 12, that suggested a series of changes to compensation and support for victims of crime.
The government wants to establish a national Victims' Fund, which would provide a broader range of support services for those who have suffered as a result of crime. The paper states that were it introduced, the surcharge should begin generating revenue for victims from the end of this year.
Another key proposal in the paper is a shift in the responsibility for compensating victims of crime at work away from the state and on to employers. In 2002/03, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority paid out £11.6m to public service employees injured in the course of duty, with more than half going to police officers.
A further option suggested empowering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to recover money from offenders.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said: 'We want compensation to victims to be targeted in the right way, and to come from the most appropriate sources. With these proposals we look to the perpetrators as well as the state. We believe that a payment towards victims from offenders should form an important part of their reparation.'
But in a radio phone-in on January 13, Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that the government would be prepared to modify the plan if the general reaction were critical.
PFjan2004
