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CWU opposes government plans to cut compensation for victims of violent dog attacks

1st June 2012

CWU is opposing proposals by the government to make cuts to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) which would make the victims of dog attacks highly unlikely to receive compensation payments.

As part of the union's Bite Back campaign, CWU is concerned that victims who previously relied on CICS as a last resort will now receive no compensation to help deal with serious injuries. CICS makes compensation payments to those who are physically injured by violent criminal acts, however, proposals set out by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) would make savage cuts to this crucial compensation. Significantly for CWU members, under the plans, the victims of dog attacks would no longer be able to claim for compensation unless the 'animal itself was deliberately used to attack a person or in other words was set upon the victim to inflict an injury on that person'.

There are more than 5,000 dog attacks on postal workers every year, with more on other service workers. The plans also mean that victims who would have received compensation under the scheme of £2,000 or less will now get nothing for all injuries. Compensation payments under £11,000 will also be significantly reduced, whilst payments of £11,000 or more will not be affected.

CWU Health, Safety & Environment Officer Dave Joyce said: "Many CWU members who are dog attack victims face a situation where the owner is uninsured and has no money. Dog attack claims can involve people suffering permanent injuries and scarring, which often has a damaging impact on their lives. It is only right that dog attack victims are allowed to bring valid claims for redress. Equally, victims with serious injuries may need to take several months off work in order to recover from it."

MoJ officials stated in their consultation paper they do not believe that small compensation payments after the event are the most effective way to help victims recover from the effects of crime and that the more minor injuries will be catered for by the NHS and that government will invest more money in support services for victims, available at the point of need.

Dave added: "Pay-outs from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme contrast starkly with the amounts awarded by the civil courts, which often run into five or six figures. Many people who have suffered physical and psychological harm as victims of dog attacks and other crimes of violence will lose their rights to claim compensation and others will receive substantially reduced compensation payments, as a result of these proposed changes. Any alterations to the Scheme need to be scrutinised carefully to ensure that claimants do not lose out on compensation which they deserve. These proposed changes will restrict access to a form of justice for those who have been injured in dog attacks through no fault of their own."

The CWU response to the proposals strongly opposes the CICS changes, pointing out that regularly in cases where an irresponsible dog owner's aggressive and uncontrolled dog severely injures a postal worker, the owner has no third party insurance and no money in the bank or assets. Victims in such cases go finally to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme as a last resort but soon there will be no compensation there either if these proposals are not withdrawn.

"The Government, in its reforms of civil justice, must stop to consider the needs of innocent victims and recognise that they need and deserve full and proper compensation. But by cutting crime victims compensation, the MoJ is cutting their access to justice" said Dave.

Under the previous Labour Government, groups representing victims of crime had welcomed a Government overhaul of the criminal injuries system which increased compensation pay-outs for many types of injury by 10%.

Read the CWU submission in full.

Find out more about the Bite Back campaign.