RAPE VICTIM :: UK CRIME COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Approximately 200 women are raped every day in the UK and anyone, regardless of age, race or gender can become a rape victim. Every year there are over 200,000 recorded sexual assaults including almost 50,000 incidents or rape or attempted rape. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the crime only one in five of these assaults is reported to police.

A sexual offence subject to a criminal prosecution is defined as any illegal activity that is sexual in nature or intention which includes rape. Most of the current law relating to sexual offences is contained in the Sexual Offences Act 1956, the Sex Offenders Act 1997, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 :-

Rape has evolved in definition over the years and whilst originally meaning a male having vaginal intercourse without consent, it now includes include oral or anal penetration and also includes surgically reconstructed male or female genitalia.

If you have been a rape victim, there are certain steps that you need to take in order to ensure that your case is handled properly and that you receive the help and compensation you need in order to start the recovery process. First, you should go to a safe location where there are other people around as soon as possible after the assault. Next, seek medical help. Staff at most medical facilities such as the accident and emergency department of hospitals, Well Woman and Family Planning clinics and the Genito-Urinary clinic at larger hospitals are trained to deal with these sensitive situations. Keep all of the clothing that you were wearing during the attack. Although it is certainly understandable that you will want to bathe, do not bath or shower until after a proper medical examination because valuable DNA evidence can be washed away.

In order to be awarded compensation for criminal injury, a rape victim will need to report the assault to the Police as soon as possible. Also, if a "drug rape" is suspected, it is even more crucial that you report the crime to police as soon as possible. Drug rape occurs when a victim’s drink has been spiked with a drug that impairs function and makes them more vulnerable to sexual assault. Police are also able to contact Victim Support on your behalf. Victim Support is a charity organization that can give you guidance in the process of recovery from a violent crime.

If you are a rape victim you may also be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which exists to provide innocent victims of violent crime with compensation for their physical and emotional injuries. Contact us today for free legal advice about bringing a CICA claim. When you call us you will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and compassion. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to speak to someone of your own gender. We provide legal representation on a no win no fee basis. If your CICA claim is unsuccessful for any reason, you pay us nothing. Bringing your criminal injury compensation claim is completely risk-free.