Is it time for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to change its definition of a "crime of violence"
In the news this week is the former Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens. He was jailed for life in 2012 for raping and murdering Sarah Everard in a high-profile case. He has now been sentenced to 19 months in prison for exposing himself in incidents which took place before that attack.
Wayne Couzens pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent exposure; he is already serving a whole life sentence for his crimes against Sarah Everard.
Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division said in a statement “Couzens repeatedly targeted women to expose himself to on multiple occasions. These offences were abhorrent and caused great distress and discomfort for the victims.”
The current Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, last revised in 2012, only awards compensation to victims of “crimes of violence”. Currently the scheme does not cover indecent exposure, harassment, or stalking; but perhaps it should?
The definition of a “crime of violence” under the scheme takes more than a full page of A4 typed paper. The keys points are that to be assessed as a “crime of violence” the crime needs to involve a direct physical or sexual attack, or immediate threat of direct violence.
It is clear from survivor’s groups and the statements from Wayne Couzen’s victims provided to the courts that the indirect sexual crimes of indecent exposure are still traumatic, and these were one off incidents.
Survivors of harassment and stalking can suffer non-contact sexual crimes in the same way as the victims forced to see Wayne Couzens when he exposed himself. Many people are subjected to repeated incident, over prolonged periods of time in stalking and harassment cases. These cases go to court and are accepted as crimes, but why is the resulting psychological trauma not eligible for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme? They do not meet the definition of a “crime of violence.”
If you have suffered from a sexually motivated attack you could be entitled to compensation. See our criminal injuries compensation calculator.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 is due to a review; perhaps it is time for them to consider their definition of a “crime of violence” to include those who have suffered the psychological trauma of non-contact sexual crimes?
