New support for victims of terrorism overseas
18 January 2010
Victims of terrorist atrocities abroad will now be able to claim compensation under a new scheme announced today by Justice Secretary, Jack Straw.
While the UK works with its allies to defeat the scourge of terrorism, tragically innocent victims are sometimes killed and injured in foreign terrorist attacks, and until now UK victims have not been eligible for compensation.
Introduced today by Home Secretary Alan Johnson as part of the Crime and Security Bill, the new Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme, will provide the innocent victims of foreign terrorist attacks financial compensation as an expression of public sympathy and in recognition that a British citizen has been a blameless victim.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:
'Terrorism is intended as a political statement and an attack on society as a whole. Therefore it is right that, as a tangible expression of sympathy, society should compensate the victims of terrorist attacks abroad in recognition of the injuries suffered. We are pleased to announce details of a new scheme to compensate British citizens who have been injured or bereaved by a terrorist attack overseas.
'Over the past 10 years a solid platform of support for victims of crime has been built and the new Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme takes this one step further. Although we will never be able to compensate fully the trauma victims of terrorism experience, we hope the new scheme will provide some much needed relief and recognition that victims and their loved ones go through.'
The Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation scheme will apply to designated terrorist acts that occur outside the United Kingdom and:
- broadly mirror the existing domestic criminal injuries compensation scheme which compensates blameless victims of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales who have no other recourse to compensation,
- as with the domestic scheme, compensation awards will be calculated according to a tariff based on the seriousness of the injury,
- eligibility for compensation will be limited to British victims and nationals of a member State of the European Union and European Economic Area with a sufficient connection to the UK.
The new statutory scheme will apply to any terrorist act that takes place on or after 18 January 2010. However, the government appreciates that there will be victims of overseas terrorist attacks in recent years who continue to face hardship as a result of the on-going consequences of a disability arising from the injuries they sustained.
In recognition of this the government will, alongside the introduction of the statutory scheme, provide assistance to eligible victims of overseas terrorist attacks since January 2002 who are in such a position. Details of this time-limited scheme will be announced in due course.
Home Secretary, Alan Johnson said:
'Acts of terrorism are often indiscriminate, leaving a legacy of great pain and hardship for the innocent people who are injured. It is only right that we support these victims as best we can.
'I hope that the measures I have announced in Parliament today will go some way to easing the trauma these victims experience and to demonstrating the sympathy that society as a whole extends to them.'
Foreign Secretary, David Milliband said:
'The Foreign Office already provides assistance to victims of terrorism overseas, including deploying Rapid Deployment Teams to try to locate missing British nationals, offering practical help and support to victims and their families, and uniting victims with their loved ones in the UK. The measures announced in Parliament today bolster these efforts and will provide a further important support to those seeking to cope with the terrible consequences of terrorism'.
Minister for Humanitarian Assistance, Tessa Jowell said:
'It is right that victims of terrorism abroad will finally receive financial support. I have worked with those affected by such attacks for many years and know of the utter devastation that these events have brought to families. Having championed this cause on behalf of those affected since 2005, I am pleased that a solution has now been reached. It is also reassuring that victims of overseas terrorist attacks since January 2002 will be eligible for some help. No amount of money could ever make up for the horror that terrorist attacks bring to people’s lives, but at least now there will be some financial support to help them.'
Notes to editors
- The new scheme will form part of the Crime and Securities Bill which was introduced into Parliament on 18 November.
- The scheme will be administered by the Glasgow-based, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
- The non-statutory scheme will only be introduced once the legislation governing the Victims of Terrorism Compensation Scheme has been passed by Parliament.
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