Anger as victims face two-year payout wait

THOUSANDS of violent crime victims have been forced to wait more than two years for compensation due to red tape.

- By Matthew Davis

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority was set up to make payments for the injuries or mental scars resulting from attacks.

A strict tariff of recompense includes £1,000 for people suffering a perforated ear drum or a broken shoulder blade, up to £110,000 for the loss of both legs, and £250,000 for severe disabling brain damage.

But official records show an increasing number of victims have been left waiting while their compensation applications are processed.

At the start of the current financial year there were 7,575 people who had been waiting more than two years.