Making a child abuse compensation claim.
A former summer camp organiser has been has admitted to sexual offences against children in Leicestershire. The 17 charges he admitted include sexual assault of a child under 13, cruelty to a person under 16, making indecent photographs of children, and drugging children with tranquillisers.
Types of child abuse
Child abuse can occur in various circumstances, including schools, activity centres, religious settings, care homes, and private homes. The NSPCC differentiates between contact and non-contact child abuse.
Contact child abuse includes:
- sexual touching of a child over or under clothing
- using a body part or an object to rape or penetrate a child
- forcing a child to take part in sexual activities
Non-contact child abuse includes:
- exposing or flashing
- forcing a child to masturbate
- exposing or forcing a child to participate in sexual acts
- Making, viewing, or distributing child abuse images or videos
Making a claim for child abuse compensation
There are two potential options for making a child abuse compensation claim.
- Bringing an action in the county court. A child sexual abuse claim should generally be commenced in court by the claimant’s 21st birthday, but claims can also be made outside the limitation date under certain limited circumstances.
- Making an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a government scheme to compensate victims of crime. The conditions of this scheme require the crime to have occurred in childhood, for the police to have been informed in childhood, and the application must be made by the applicant’s 20th birthday or two years from the date of report to the police (if the police are not involved until the applicant has turned 18).
How we can help with a claim for compensation
We have a team of lawyers who specialise in childhood sexual abuse cases, both in the County Courts and under the CICA scheme. They can advise on the merits of your case, any time limits that apply, and whether No Win, No Fee funding is available.
We provide a free assessment of your enquiry and can assure total confidentiality.
One of our specialist lawyers, Elizabeth Duncan, has previously spoken to ITV about abuse and has assisted the British Medical Journal and the Guardian with an investigation into sexual assault in the NHS. Furthermore, a school abuse case we previously succeeded with was listed for “Outstanding Case of the Year” in the Personal Injury Awards for the settlement we achieved for the Claimant.