Criminal Injuries Compensation (CICA) (UK)
Understand how criminal injuries compensation is assessed under the CICA scheme in England, Scotland and Wales, including eligibility, evidence, awards and time limits.
Criminal injuries compensation is available through a government-funded scheme administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The scheme may compensate eligible victims of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland operates under separate arrangements.
CICA applications differ from standard personal injury claims. The assessment is not based on proving civil negligence or establishing fault against another party. Instead, the authority considers whether the incident and resulting injury meet the rules of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Outcomes depend on eligibility, police reporting, supporting evidence, applicable time limits and how qualifying injuries are assessed under the scheme. The offender does not need to be identified or convicted before an application can be assessed.
General information only. This website does not provide legal advice, assess claims, or act on behalf of individuals.
Free Case Review is an independent legal information website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government body.
Criminal injuries compensation applications are assessed using the rules of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and the circumstances of each incident.
What criminal injuries compensation involves
Criminal injuries compensation is a government-funded scheme covering qualifying physical injuries, disabling mental injuries and certain fatal cases arising from violent crime. The scheme is administered by CICA under rules approved by Parliament.
The scheme does not operate in the same way as a civil personal injury case. CICA considers whether the incident was a qualifying crime of violence, whether the application meets the scheme rules and whether the available information supports an award.
- Violent crime requirement – the injury must normally result directly from a qualifying crime of violence.
- Police reporting – the incident must normally be reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable.
- Cooperation with authorities – reasonable cooperation with the police and CICA forms part of the assessment.
- Evidence requirements – police information, medical records and other documents may be used to establish the incident and its effects.
- Eligibility conditions – residency or nationality requirements, applicant conduct, unspent convictions and other scheme rules may affect the outcome.
Common types of criminal injury applications
CICA applications can involve different forms of physical injury, disabling mental injury, fatal incidents and scheme-specific eligibility questions. Each type of application may involve different evidence and assessment issues.
Covers injuries caused by physical assaults, including how incidents involving violence are typically considered under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Common topics include:
- Common assault
- Actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Grievous bodily harm (GBH)
- Facial and bodily injuries
Focuses on criminal injuries arising from sexual assault and abuse, including both recent and historical offences.
Common topics include:
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Childhood abuse
- Historical abuse
Covers injuries resulting from domestic abuse and violence between family members or intimate partners.
Common topics include:
- Physical violence
- Threats involving fear of immediate violence
- Repeated assaults
- Psychological trauma
Focuses on injuries sustained during robberies, muggings and other theft offences involving violence.
Common topics include:
- Street robberies
- Muggings
- Violent burglaries
- Assault during theft
Claims involving knife crime and other violent attacks that result in serious physical or life-changing injuries.
Common topics include:
- Stabbings
- Slash injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disabilities
Covers compensation that may be available following a death caused by a qualifying violent crime.
Common topics include:
- Fatal assaults
- Bereavement awards
- Dependency payments
- Funeral payments
Focuses on criminal injuries suffered by children, including abuse occurring in both recent and historical cases.
Common topics include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Historical abuse
- Disabling mental injury arising from qualifying abuse
Covers qualifying violent crimes that fall outside the main categories and may still be considered under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Common topics include:
- Firearm offences
- Acid attacks
- False imprisonment
- Kidnapping
Each type of criminal injury claim involves different circumstances, injuries and assessment considerations.
Different types of violent crime can involve varying circumstances, injuries and factors that may influence how applications are assessed.
How the CICA application process works
While every application is different, most follow a structured assessment process:
1. Incident and police reporting
The incident is reviewed to establish what happened and whether it may fall within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
- Date and location of the incident
- Police reporting
- Nature of the violent crime
- Whether the incident may qualify as a crime of violence
2. Application submission
An application is submitted with information about the incident, injuries and the applicant.
- Personal information
- Incident details
- Injury information
- Supporting documentation
3. Evidence gathering
Information is gathered to help establish the circumstances of the incident and the impact of the injuries.
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Psychological assessments
- Supporting documentation
4. Eligibility assessment
The application is assessed against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme rules before any award is considered.
- Eligibility requirements
- Residency or nationality requirements
- Applicant conduct
- Scheme requirements
5. Assessment under the tariff
Qualifying injuries are assessed using the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme tariff and the applicable payment rules.
- Type of injury
- Severity of injury
- Tariff category
- Additional qualifying payments
6. Decision, review or appeal
A decision is issued once the application has been assessed, with review options available in some circumstances.
- Application outcome
- Written decision
- Review process
- Tribunal appeal
What a CICA award may include
A CICA award may include different types of payments depending on the circumstances of the incident and the rules of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Qualifying injury award
- Physical injuries
- Qualifying disabling mental injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- Long-term effects
- Multiple qualifying injuries
Additional qualifying payments
- Loss of earnings
- Special expenses
- Dependency payments
- Bereavement payments
- Funeral payments
CICA time limits for making a claim
CICA applications should normally be made as soon as reasonably practicable. The applicable deadline depends partly on the applicant’s age when the incident occurred and when it was reported to the police.
Standard time limits may include:
- Adults must normally apply within two years of the incident
- Where an incident was reported before the applicant turned 18, the application must normally be received by their 20th birthday
- Where the incident was first reported on or after the applicant turned 18, the application must normally be made within two years of that police report
- The incident must be reported to the police before CICA can make an award
Factors affecting a late application may include:
- Exceptional circumstances preventing an earlier application
- Childhood physical or sexual abuse
- The applicant’s age, capacity, health or wellbeing
- The explanation for any delay in police reporting
- Whether the evidence allows a decision without extensive further enquiries
Time limits are applied under the Scheme rules, and a delayed application is not automatically accepted merely because the incident or its effects continued over time.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme time limits may be influenced by factors such as age, reporting history, exceptional circumstances and the information available to assess a delayed application.
Key factors that affect a CICA application
Several factors can influence how an application is assessed:
- Eligibility – whether the applicant, incident and injury fall within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme rules
- Available evidence – the quality and availability of information supporting the application
- Police reporting – whether the incident was reported as soon as reasonably practicable and any delay can be explained
- Medical evidence – how physical or psychological injuries are documented and assessed
- Injury severity – how the injury is classified under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme tariff
- Applicant conduct and convictions – whether conduct or relevant unspent convictions affect the application or award
The overall assessment is based on the circumstances of the incident, the available information and the requirements of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Do all incidents qualify?
Not every incident results in a successful application.
An application typically requires:
- A qualifying crime of violence
- A qualifying injury covered by the CICA scheme tariff
- Compliance with the scheme’s eligibility requirements
- Sufficient information to support the application
Incidents that do not meet the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme rules may not qualify for an award.
Understanding eligibility
Eligibility determines whether an application can be considered under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Eligibility generally includes:
- A qualifying crime of violence
- Meeting nationality or residency requirements
- A qualifying physical injury or disabling mental injury
- An application made within the applicable time limit or accepted under the extension rules
Other factors may also be considered:
- Cooperation with the police and CICA
- The circumstances of the incident
- Applicant conduct
- Relevant unspent criminal convictions
Why Evidence Matters
Evidence plays an important role in how Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme applications are assessed.
Examples of useful evidence include:
- Information obtained from the police
- Medical records
- Psychological assessments
- Witness statements
- Other supporting documentation
Available evidence can help establish the circumstances of the incident, whether the Scheme requirements are met and how the qualifying injuries should be assessed.
Understanding how criminal injuries compensation is assessed can help explain how eligibility, evidence, time limits and individual circumstances may influence an application.
Some criminal injury applications involve additional considerations relating to eligibility, evidence, the nature of the injuries and the individual circumstances of the incident.
Final Notes
Criminal injuries compensation is assessed under a statutory scheme with defined rules covering crimes of violence, eligibility, police reporting, evidence, time limits and tariff awards. Different incidents can produce different outcomes even where the resulting injuries appear similar.
This page provides general information about criminal injuries compensation and the usual CICA assessment process in England, Scotland and Wales. It does not determine eligibility, assess individual applications or calculate potential awards under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
For official information about eligibility, time limits, evidence, payments and the application process, refer to Criminal injuries compensation: a guide (official Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority guidance – opens an external website).
Related Topics
Explore other areas of law covered across this website: