GLP Solicitors urges reform of Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme for grooming and online abuse victims

By Steven Astley, Partner and Head of Injury, GLP Solicitors
1 September 2025

GLP Solicitors has today renewed its call for urgent reform of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) following a series of reports, including The Times‘ recent investigation, highlighting the injustice faced by victims of grooming and online sexual exploitation who are being denied compensation.

Under current CICS rules, thousands of victims, including children subjected to technology-assisted abuse, are routinely refused compensation because their injuries do not meet the scheme’s narrow definition of a “crime of violence.” Others, particularly those exploited by grooming gangs, are excluded because of criminal convictions directly linked to their abuse.

We believe this creates a two-tier system of justice that fails to reflect the realities of modern exploitation.

“For years we’ve been warning that the CICS is outdated and unjust,” said Steven Astley, Partner and Head of Injury at GLP Solicitors.

“Victims of grooming, especially children coerced into offending by their abusers, are being retraumatised when they’re told they’re not ‘deserving’ of compensation. That is morally indefensible and legally inconsistent with everything we know about coercive control and exploitation.”

Supporting Sarah Champion’s amendment

We strongly support Sarah Champion MP’s proposed amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill, which seeks to:

  • Recognise that online grooming and non-contact abuse can cause trauma equal to or greater than physical violence.
  • Remove the automatic exclusion of victims with convictions linked to their abuse.
  • Align CICS with the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), recommendations the government has, until now, failed to adopt.

This position is backed by a coalition of leading charities, including the NSPCC, The Survivors Trust, and the Marie Collins Foundation, who warn that the current rules are causing “lifelong trauma” for victims already failed by the criminal justice system.

Why reform cannot wait

At GLP, we represent hundreds of survivors of grooming, sexual abuse, and coercive exploitation. We repeatedly see clients who:

  • Were manipulated into criminal acts, such as carrying drugs or recruiting other children, under the direction of their abusers.
  • Had images of their abuse circulated online, causing ongoing psychological harm.
  • Were refused compensation despite clear evidence of significant trauma.

“The system is stuck in the past,” Astley continued.

“When the CICS was last overhauled, it didn’t anticipate the scale of online exploitation and technology-assisted abuse we see today. Non-contact crimes,  like image-based abuse or blackmail, can be just as devastating as physical assaults. The scheme must evolve to reflect that reality.”

The human cost

One recent case, highlighted in The Times, involved a 12-year-old girl who was groomed online, blackmailed, and subsequently self-harmed. Despite clear evidence of trauma, she was denied compensation because her abuse did not meet the scheme’s definition of a “crime of violence.”

“Cases like this are heart-breaking,” Astley said.

“We see first-hand how rejection by CICA compounds victims’ trauma and reinforces a sense that the system doesn’t believe or value them.”

A call to action

We urge the government to adopt Sarah Champion’s amendment in full and commit to implementing the IICSA recommendations without delay. The CICS must provide a fair, consistent, and trauma-informed framework that recognises:

  • The profound psychological harm caused by technology-assisted abuse.
  • The reality that many victims are coerced into offending.
  • That all victims of sexual exploitation, online or offline, deserve equal access to justice and support.

Until these reforms are made, countless victims will remain trapped in a cycle of harm, denied the recognition and compensation they desperately need.

“We cannot keep punishing victims for the crimes committed against them,” Astley concluded.

“This is about justice, dignity, and compassion. The government must act now.”

About GLP Solicitors

GLP Solicitors is one of the UK’s leading firms in Criminal Injuries Compensation claims, with over 50 years’ experience supporting survivors of violent crime, sexual abuse, and exploitation. We continue to campaign for a fairer, more inclusive CICS and remain committed to amplifying the voices of victims.

If you or someone you know has been affected, our specialist team is here to guide you through the claims process and help secure the compensation you deserve.