Call to help victims of violent crime

Social workers are being called on by experts
in criminal injury compensation to help provide more comprehensive
support to victims of violent crime.

Legal
firm Assault and Criminal Injury Compensation Associates said care
offered by social workers to victims of assault and mugging should
be backed up by more information about the practical help and
advice to which victims are entitled.

ACICA
director Richard Dobson said that although there are more than
600,000 serious assaults in the UK each year, only 80,000 victims
claim compensation from the government’s Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority. Fewer than 50,000 go on to receive payments
of about £4,000 each.

“Social workers may reasonably
think that other professionals already offer practical advice, but
sadly this is not often the case. In fact there seems to be a
greater focus on the financial needs of offenders, while their
victims suffer largely in silence,” he said.

– For
more information go to www.acica.co.uk