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Criminal Injury Compensation Solicitors

You Were the Victim. The Government Owes You Compensation.
We Get It For You.

Victims of violent crime are entitled to compensation through the CICA — even if the attacker was never caught. Most victims don’t know this scheme exists. Harris & Co. handle the entire process. Free advice. No obligation.

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Criminal Injury Claims

What is the CICA and
can you claim?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government body that compensates victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales. It operates under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 and pays compensation from public funds — not from the offender.

You do not need to identify, prosecute, or convict the attacker to claim. If a violent crime was committed against you, you reported it to the police, and you suffered an injury as a result, you are eligible. Many victims are unaware this scheme exists or assume they cannot claim because their attacker was never caught.

At Harris & Co. Solicitors we handle the entire CICA process — from initial application through to review and tribunal appeal if necessary. We understand the tariff system, the eligibility criteria, and the common reasons claims are reduced or refused.

2-year time limit

CICA claims must be submitted within two years of the incident — shorter than the standard three-year personal injury limitation period. However, the CICA can waive this limit in exceptional circumstances, particularly for victims of childhood abuse or sexual offences. Contact us as soon as possible so we can assess your eligibility.

You were the victim of a violent crime. Assault, sexual offences, domestic violence, robbery, stabbing, unprovoked attack, or any crime of violence committed against you in England, Scotland, or Wales.
You reported it to the police. The crime must have been reported as soon as reasonably practicable, and you must have cooperated with the investigation. The attacker does not need to have been caught or convicted.
You suffered a physical or mental injury. Physical injuries, psychological conditions (PTSD, anxiety, depression), sexual assault trauma, and diseases directly resulting from the crime are all eligible.
Compensation is paid from public funds. The CICA pays from government funds. You are not claiming against the offender. This is a state-funded compensation scheme for victims of crime.
Assault & Violent Attack
Unprovoked assaults, pub and nightclub attacks, street violence, ABH, GBH, and any physical attack resulting in injury. The most common type of CICA claim.
Sexual Assault & Rape
All forms of sexual violence including rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, and historic sexual offences. Claims handled with complete sensitivity and discretion.
Domestic Violence
Physical and psychological injuries caused by domestic abuse. The CICA recognises domestic violence as a crime of violence and victims are entitled to compensation regardless of their relationship to the offender.
Childhood Abuse
Physical or sexual abuse suffered as a child. The two-year time limit can be waived for childhood abuse victims who were unable to report sooner. Many claims are brought years or decades after the abuse.
Knife Crime & Stabbing
Stab wounds, slash injuries, and all injuries caused by knife attacks. Often resulting in serious physical injuries, scarring, and significant psychological trauma including PTSD.
Psychological Injury
PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions directly caused by being the victim of a violent crime. Psychological injuries are compensable even without physical harm.
Compensation

What the CICA
scheme covers.

The CICA uses a tariff-based system to calculate compensation for injuries. In addition to the injury tariff, you can claim for loss of earnings and special expenses. The maximum total award under the scheme is £500,000.

Injury Tariff
Fixed awards based on injury type and severity
  • Physical injuries — fractures, scarring, organ damage, loss of limb
  • Psychological injuries — PTSD, depression, anxiety, disabling mental illness
  • Sexual offence injuries — specific tariff bands for sexual violence
  • Fatal injury payments — bereavement and dependency for bereaved families
  • Multiple injuries — highest tariff paid in full, second at 30%, third at 15%
  • Awards range from £1,000 to £250,000 for the injury element alone
Loss of Earnings & Special Expenses
Financial losses beyond the injury tariff
  • Loss of earnings — if unable to work for 28+ weeks (capped at median UK wage)
  • Future loss of earnings — for long-term or permanent incapacity
  • NHS-funded medical treatment costs are covered separately
  • Special expenses — costs directly arising from the injury
  • Mental health treatment costs
  • Physical aids, equipment, and home adaptations for serious injuries
  • Funeral expenses for fatal injury claims
  • Dependency payments for bereaved partners and children
The CICA Scheme

How the scheme
actually works.

The CICA scheme is a government-funded compensation scheme — not a court claim against the offender. Applications are submitted directly to the CICA, who assess eligibility, determine the injury tariff band, and calculate any additional loss of earnings or special expenses.

If your application is refused or the award is too low, you have the right to request a review. If the review decision is still unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal. We represent clients at every stage.

No need to identify the attacker
Compensation is paid from public funds. It does not matter whether the offender was caught, charged, or convicted.
Police report required
The crime must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. You must have cooperated with any investigation.
Review and appeal rights
If your claim is refused or undervalued, you can request a review within 56 days. If still unsatisfactory, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
Common reasons CICA claims are reduced or refused
Understanding these rules upfront helps us build the strongest possible application:
  • Crime not reported to police, or not reported promptly enough
  • Failure to cooperate with the police investigation or prosecution
  • Unspent criminal convictions — penalty scale applies
  • Applicant’s conduct before, during, or after the incident
  • Application submitted outside the 2-year time limit without exceptional reasons
  • Same-roof rule — living with the assailant (exceptions for domestic violence and child abuse)
  • Injury does not meet the minimum tariff threshold (£1,000)
  • Insufficient medical evidence to support the claimed injury
Start Your Free Assessment

Free advice. No obligation. Complete confidentiality. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.

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Our Approach

How we handle your
CICA claim.

CICA claims have specific rules, tariffs, and eligibility criteria that differ from standard personal injury claims. We handle the entire process from initial application to tribunal appeal, ensuring your claim is presented in the strongest possible terms.

Step 01
Free Eligibility Assessment
A solicitor will review the circumstances of the crime, confirm your eligibility under the CICA scheme, assess which tariff band applies to your injuries, and advise on any factors that could affect your award — all free and confidential.
Step 02
Gather Evidence & Medical Records
We obtain your medical records, police crime reference, GP notes, and any specialist reports needed to evidence the full extent of your injuries — both physical and psychological. Strong medical evidence is essential for maximising your tariff band.
Step 03
Submit Your Application
We prepare and submit a comprehensive CICA application, correctly identifying the tariff band, claiming all eligible loss of earnings and special expenses, and addressing any potential issues (such as criminal convictions or late reporting) proactively.
Step 04
Review & Tribunal Appeal
If the CICA refuses your claim or offers too little, we request a formal review. If the review is still unsatisfactory, we represent you at the First-tier Tribunal — an independent body with the power to increase your award.
Our Fees

Transparent pricing.
No hidden costs.

CICA claims are not typically handled on a No Win No Fee basis because they are applications to a government scheme rather than court proceedings against a defendant’s insurer. However, our fees are transparent, competitive, and agreed upfront before any work begins.

In many cases, our fee is a fixed percentage of your award — meaning you only pay from the compensation you receive. We will explain the fee structure clearly at your free consultation so there are no surprises.

Free initial consultation
We assess your eligibility and advise on likely outcomes at no cost and no obligation.
Fees agreed upfront
Our fee structure is explained clearly before any work begins. No hidden costs, no hourly surprises.
SRA regulated
All fees are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We are bound by professional conduct rules on transparency and fairness.
  • Initial consultationFree
  • Eligibility assessmentFree
  • Fee structureAgreed upfront before work begins
  • CICA maximum award£500,000
  • Minimum tariff award£1,000
  • Regulated bySolicitors Regulation Authority
Victim of crime? Get free advice now.
Confidential advice, no obligation. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.
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Time Limits

CICA time limits are
shorter than you think.

Standard
2 Years from Date of Incident
CICA applications must be submitted within two years of the crime — one year shorter than the standard personal injury limitation period. Once this deadline passes, the CICA will generally refuse the application unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Exception
Childhood Abuse & Sexual Offences
The two-year limit can be waived for victims of childhood abuse and sexual offences who were unable to apply sooner. The CICA recognises that these crimes are often not reported until years or decades later. We regularly handle late applications for historic abuse.
Act Now
Report to Police First
The crime must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. If you have not yet reported, do so immediately — then contact us. A delayed police report can be overcome in many cases, but it is always better to act now.
FAQs

Your questions
answered.

Answers to the most common questions about CICA criminal injury claims. For specific advice, call us on 0161 537 3777 — free, confidential, no obligation.

Call for Free Advice
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government body that compensates victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales. It pays compensation from public funds based on the injuries you suffered — not from the offender. You do not need to identify or prosecute the attacker to claim.
Any person who sustained a criminal injury as a direct result of a violent crime in England, Scotland, or Wales. This includes victims of assault, robbery, sexual offences, domestic violence, child abuse, and terrorist attacks. Family members of someone who died from violent crime can also claim bereavement and funeral payments.
Awards range from £1,000 for minor injuries to £500,000 for the most serious cases. The injury tariff, loss of earnings (capped at median UK wage), and special expenses are calculated separately. The maximum total award is £500,000.
Yes. The crime must have been reported as soon as reasonably practicable, and you must have cooperated with the investigation. However, the attacker does not need to have been identified, caught, charged, or convicted.
Yes. CICA compensation is paid from public funds, not from the offender. It does not matter whether the attacker was identified, arrested, or convicted. Many successful CICA claims involve unidentified attackers.
Two years from the date of the incident. This is shorter than the standard three-year limitation. The CICA can waive this limit in exceptional circumstances — particularly for childhood abuse and sexual offences.
Yes. The two-year time limit can be waived for childhood abuse victims who were unable to apply sooner. The CICA recognises that victims of childhood abuse often do not report until years or decades later. We handle these claims with complete sensitivity.
You can request a review within 56 days. If the review decision is still unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation), which is independent of the CICA and can increase your award. We represent clients at all stages.
It can. The CICA applies a penalty system based on unspent criminal convictions. Minor convictions may reduce your award; serious convictions can result in refusal. However, having a record does not automatically disqualify you. We will assess your record honestly and advise you.
We’d strongly recommend Harris & Co. Solicitors. CICA claims have specific rules, tariffs, and eligibility criteria that differ from standard personal injury claims. Our team understands the scheme, the review process, and the tribunal appeal system. We hold a 5.0 Google rating and handle all cases with complete discretion. Call us on 0161 537 3777 for a free, confidential consultation.

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Victim of violent crime?
You deserve compensation.

The CICA exists to compensate victims like you. Most people don’t know the scheme exists. Contact Harris & Co. Solicitors for a free, confidential assessment — we’ll tell you exactly what you’re entitled to.

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