Would you like find out more about claiming sexual assault compensation? Did you suffer sexual abuse as a child from someone in a position of trust? Or were you a victim of rape as an adult? If so, you may be able to pursue compensation.

In this guide, we will look at the different channels that you can go through to claim compensation. You can claim directly against the assailant or responsible person, but there is also the option of pursuing compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

This is a government-sponsored executive agency that awards compensation to victims of violent crimes. Let’s explore this in more detail.

Choose A Section

1. What Is Sexual Assault Compensation?
2. Receiving Immediate Support After Sexual Assault, Abuse And Rape
3. How Do I Claim Sexual Assault Compensation?
4. Calculating General And Special Damages After Assault, Abuse And Rape
5. Could I Work With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
6. Extra Guidance About Claiming Sexual Assault Compensation

What Is Sexual Assault Compensation?

Firstly, it’s important to define the offence. Sexual assault is when someone touches another person without their consent in a sexual manner. It can also be when someone forces or coerces another person to participate in sexual activity with them without that person’s consent. There are various types and degrees of sexual assault recognised as crimes but the main examples are:

• Rape- This is where someone penetrates another person with their penis without consent.
• Assault by penetration- Where someone penetrates another person with a body part or other object without consent.
• Child sexual abuse- Where a child is forced or incited into engaging in sexual activity. This can be contact or non-contact abuse.

These offences are described in laws which include the Indecency with Children Act 1960 (which only applies to crimes committed before May 2004) the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (again, for pre-May 2004 offences) and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The age of consent across the UK nations is 16; this means that any adult who engages sexually with a child under that age is committing an offence.

Sexual assault compensation can be possible when you can prove that you were physically or/or emotionally injured. A claim could involve a current offender or an individual in the past who perpetrated sexual assault acts.

There are time limits that apply to starting these kinds of claims. When you’re making a direct claim for compensation, this is generally 3 years.

There is a 2-year time limit to claiming through the CICA. However, you may be able to claim outside this time limit if you can show that exceptional circumstances prevented you from doing so.

Findings From Sexual Assault Statistics

For the year ending March 2019, the Office of National Statistics revealed some key points regarding child sexual assault:

• Police in England and Wales recorded 73,260 child sexual offences in the year ending March 2019.
• 7.5% of adults aged between 18 – 74 years reported some type of sexual abuse prior to turning 16.
• The majority of victims did not report their sexual abuse to anyone at the time.
• 2,230 children in England were the subject of a child protection plan (CPP) by March 31st 2019
• 120 children in Wales were on the child protection register (CPR) 
• Women were around five times as likely as men to have experienced sexual abuse by a step-father (7.5%)
• Around 9 in 10 adults (92%) experienced sexual abuse committed by males only.

Receiving Immediate Support After Sexual Assault, Abuse And Rape

In the aftermath of a serious sexual assault, it’s can be normal to feel an array of extreme emotions. There are support networks available to help you.

The Survivors Trust is the umbrella agency for 124 agencies across the UK and Ireland providing advice, support, information and therapy to over 80,000 individual survivors every year. They offer practical help to all ages and genders whatever the nature of the sexual abuse and in addition to this, offer support to the families and partners of the victims.

Also, Survivors UK offers support and advocacy for male or non-binary victims of sexual violence. Their aim is to provide a way through the experience of male rape. In addition, if you need to find immediate help for a sexual assault, Rape Crisis can find a crisis centre in your exact geographical location with their address and contact details.

As well as this, the organisation Refuge supports women and children living with domestic violence which can often incorporate sexual assault. Lastly, Victim Support offers independent, confidential and free support and advice to anyone affected by crime.

How Do I Claim Sexual Assault Compensation?

Sexual assault compensation claims can be made through a government-sponsored executive agency called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This agency looks at claims for damages on a case by case basis. They offer award amounts for injuries when all other avenues to compensation are not available.

Claims through the CICA must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The crime must have been reported to the police; this is so that you can obtain a crime number
• Claims should be started within the 2-year time limit; if they’re started outside this time limit, then exceptional circumstances should apply. You should also be able to provide sufficient evidence that extensive investigations by a claims officer won’t need to be carried out.
• Co-operation with the police in their investigations.

You may also be able to sue an institution or organisation; for example, if you can prove that they knowingly employed an individual without correctly background checking them. If they went on to commit an offence against you and you can show that they would not have been employed if the correct checks were carried out, then you may be able to claim.

You could also claim directly against the person who committed the offence. However, in order to do this, they would need to have been identified and they would need to have the funds to award you compensation.

Calculating General And Special Damages After Assault, Abuse And Rape

Below is an excerpt from the CICA tariff of injuries. You can claim for physical and psychological injuries as a result of sexual assault.

Injury	Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) tariff	Notes
Sexual assault	£1,000	A minor sexual act perpetrated above clothing
Sexual assault	£3,300	Penetrative or oral-genital acts without a penis.
Penetration of the anus, and/or vagina and/or mouth with a penis	£22,000	Resulting in moderate psychological damage confirmed by a psychiatrist
Penetration of the anus, and/or vagina and/or mouth with a penis	£27,000	Resulting in permanently disabling, severe mental illness confirmed by a psychiatrist
Penetration of the anus, and/or vagina and/or mouth with a penis	£44,000	Serious internal injury with a confirmed disabling mental illness of a permanent nature
Sexual assault (where the victim is a child)	£3,300	Serious sexual assault involving a pattern of repeated, non-penetrative sexual acts over clothing.
Sexual assault (where the victim is a child)	£8,200	Where one or more on instances of one more more non-penile penetration or oral-general acts over a period of 3 or more years.
Sexual assault (where the victim is a child)	£27,000	Where one or more on instances of one more more non-penile penetration or oral-general acts resulting in severe mental illness.
Other payments	£11,000	Infection of sexually transmitted disease other than HIV or Hepatitis causing disabilities of a permanent nature
Other payments	£22,000	Infection of HIV and Hepatitis B or C

As well as amounts for physical and emotional injury, the CICA acknowledge other forms of personal loss. These are known as special expenses.

In order to claim special expenses, you will need to have lost out on earnings for at least 28 weeks. Many special expenses will be backdated to the date of the accident; however, you will only be compensated for loss of earnings from week 29 onwards. The CICA guide can offer more insight on this.

If you claim against an institution, or against the perpetrator directly, then your compensation will not be based on this tariff. Instead, it would be calculated with the help of a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines. This publication is made up of guideline compensation brackets based on previous case studies.

Could I Work With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?

No Win No Fee agreements are agreements between personal injury solicitors and claimants. They set out the conditions that need to be achieved before the lawyer is paid.

When you fund legal representation with a No Win No Fee agreement, it means that:

• There are no upfront fees to hire your solicitor
• No fees to retain solicitors as the case moves ahead
• There is nothing to pay your lawyer at all if the case fails
• A winning outcome will mean that a small, legally capped percentage of your total settlement is deducted.

In addition to these obvious benefits, a No Win No Fee solicitor can offer valuable expertise and support in cases of a sensitive nature like sexual assault and rape. They are able to guide the request for sexual assault compensation through the CICA, against an individual or an organisation. Their help can ensure you settle for the right amount owed to you.

Extra Guidance About Claiming Sexual Assault Compensation

In conclusion, thank you for reading this guide on sexual assault compensation and the various ways that a No Win No Fee agreement can help. In addition to this, below are further resources to help:

• The NHS offer help and advice after rape or sexual assault
• Find out how to report a crime on Police.uk
• The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provides information on the sentencing of various sexual offences.

We also have some other guides you may find useful:

1. A Guide To Rape Compensation Claims
2. Can I Claim Compensation For Being Sexually Assaulted?
3. How To Make A Sexual Assault Claim
4. What Is Sexual Assault And Can You Claim Compensation?
5. The Latest Sexual Assault Statistics

Thank you for reading our sexual assault compensation guide.

Welcome to our guide on sexual assault statistics. This article focuses on claims that arise from cases of sexual assault and it supplies relevant statistics.

A claim for sexual abuse or sexual assault can be a difficult and emotional time. 

Choose A Section

1. The Latest Sexual Assault Statistics
2. Sexual Assault Victim Support
3. Could I Claim Compensation For Rape Or Sexual Assault?
4. Calculating Compensation Payouts For Sexual Assault And Rape
5. The Benefits Of Working With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
6. More Information About Sexual Assault Statistics

The Latest Sexual Assault Statistics

A sexual assault claim can arise due to someone being subjected to an inappropriate or sexual act without their consent. It can take many forms, but the perpetrator often makes physical contact with the victim during the incident or incidents. For example:

• Rape – penile penetration of the anus, mouth, or vagina without consent. Even attempted rape can lead to certain psychological issues.
• Forced penetration – when an individual’s anus or vagina is penetrated with an object against their will. This includes when they are forced to penetrate themselves against their will.
• Unwanted physical contact – being touched in a sexual way against your wishes, including above clothing.
• Any sexual act with a minor – no adult can sexually interact with anyone below the age of consent. The age of consent in all UK nations is 16 years old. 

Key pieces of legislation that cover sexual abuse include:

• Indecency with Children Act 1960. (This applies to crimes committed before May 2004.)
• Sexual Offences Act 1956. (Again, this applies to crimes committed before May 2004 and is mostly now repealed.)
• Sexual Offences Act 2003. (This applies to crimes from May 2004 onwards.)

Sexual abuse claims can arise from instances of non-contact sexual behaviour. For example, you could be harassed or threatened with sexual acts.

Sexual Assault Statistics And Trends

In figures from the Office of National Statistics, we can see how long victims took to report cases of child sexual abuse to the police. These reports were made between April 2018 and March 2019. 

As you can see from the graph below, the majority of reports(65.68%) concerned incidents of child sexual abuse that had occurred in the last year.

The second-highest percentage (14.17%) concerned incidents that had occurred 20 years ago or more. These would be known as cases of historic sexual abuse. A historical sexual abuse claim could begin when an adult comes forward and reports the incident(s) as an adult. You can still be compensated for these kinds of claims.

The Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) is the government agency typically responsible for processing these kinds of claims. Generally, they place a 2-year time limit from the date of the incident to make a claim.

However, historical cases are just one example of when the CICA can make an exception to this time limit and allow you to claim outside of the 2-year window. The time limit to claim could start from the date you reported the incident to the police if you have sufficient evidence as to why you weren’t able to report it sooner.

Sexual Assault Victim Support

There are a number of resources available for victims of sexual assault. They can offer you emotional support, as well as guidance on what you can do next. Reaching out and asking for help can seem like a big task. However, it’s an important step in addressing your situation and aiding in your recovery process.

• Contact the Survivors Trust.
• Find help specifically for young people with Survivors UK.
• Find a rape crisis centre on the Rape Crisis website.
• There is support for women, help for men, and more at Refuge.

Could I Claim Compensation For Rape Or Sexual Assault?

As mentioned earlier in this article, rape and sexual assault claims are typically made through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA). You will generally need to do this within 2 years of the incident of sexual assault. Preferably, the claim should be made as close to the date of the incident as possible.

You’ll also need to report the incident to the police before you can approach the CICA. The police will supply you with a case reference number. If you don’t have a case reference number, you won’t be able to make a claim. 

The assailant who attacked you does not need to be charged for you to make a claim through the CICA. They don’t even need to be caught. However, you will be expected to cooperate with the police in their investigation.

The money also comes directly from the government, not from the assailant. This is because there is no guarantee that the perpetrator will have the necessary personal funds to cover the compensation. That is if they are even apprehended at all.

Different injuries or incidents are assigned a monetary value in compensation by the CICA. They have their own tariff of injuries. You can be awarded more than one amount if you have suffered more than one injury. However, only the most valuable one is awarded at a full 100% rate. After that, the second and third most valuable are then awarded at rates of 30% and 15% respectively.

Compensation can be withheld entirely for reasons such as making a dishonest claim, or the inability to present any evidence.

Other Payments

There are certain occurrences that can be compensated at full value regardless of the other amounts awarded; for example, the loss of a foetus due to an attack. Additionally, you may have contracted a sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhoea or HIV.

Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)

In some instances, the defendant may be identified and known to have the personal funds available to compensate their victims. This, however, is less common. Although, if this were to be the case, the claim would not be made through the CICA.

The claim would be made directly against the defendant. The figure would also not be a set fee. It would be calculated in the same way as compensation awarded under personal injury law. Legal professionals could use a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines to assist in this calculation. The amount awarded can sometimes be much higher than it would be if you claim through the CICA.

Calculating Compensation Payouts For Sexual Assault And Rape

In this section, we have included some example entries from the CICA’s tariff of injuries. This way, you should gain a better understanding of how certain injuries are valued when claiming in this way.

Awarded For	Description	Amount
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Minor: sexual act(s) over clothing, non-penetrative	£1,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Serious: sexual act(s) under clothing, non-penetrative	£2,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Severe - oral/genital acts, non-penile penetration	£3,300
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Pattern of repetitive abuse of a severe nature for up to 3 years	£6,600
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Pattern of repetitive abuse of a severe nature for 3 years or more	£8,200
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Causes serious internal bodily injuries	£22,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Causing lasting, moderate mental illness of a disabling nature	£22,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Causing lasting, severe mental illness of a disabling nature	£27,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Penile penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth without consent by just 1 attacker	£11,000
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Penile penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth without consent by 2 or more attackers	£13,500
Sexual assault where the victim is any age (but not already compensated as a child)	Penile penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth that results in serious internal bodily injuries	£22,000

There is also the possibility of being reimbursed for certain losses that have taken place because of your injuries. This sum is known as special expenses. However, this can be quite restrictive

You can also claim for a loss of earnings due to being unable to work because of your injuries. The loss of earnings compensation would run from the 29th week of being unable to work.

The Benefits Of Working With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

It’s possible to cover your solicitor’s fees under a No Win No Fee arrangement. This is when you are not required to pay your lawyer their fee unless they are successful in aiding you in being awarded compensation.

If your claim is unsuccessful, you do not have to pay any lawyer’s fee at all. All of the lawyers on our panel work with their clients in this way. A No Win No Fee agreement reduces the financial risk to you when making a claim with the help of a lawyer.

More Information About Sexual Assault Statistics

Here are some links to additional resources that may help you.

1. For those in need of help after rape and sexual assault.
2. Find out more about Supportline – a charity for emotional support.
3. Support for victims of rape and sexual assault from the police.

We also have some other guides you may find useful:

1. A Guide To Rape Compensation Claims
2. Can I Claim Compensation For Being Sexually Assaulted?
3. How To Make A Sexual Assault Claim
4. What Is Sexual Assault And Can You Claim Compensation?
5. Sexual Assault Compensation Payouts

Thank you for reading our guide on sexual assault statistics.