British victims of terrorism financial support scheme introduced today
27 November 2012
For over seven years,
campaigners have fought to introduce financial support for British
victims of terrorism whilst abroad. The Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority Scheme would only provide support if the
attack occurred on British soil.
The Scheme launched today,
will provide financial support to those involved in such atrocities
on a par with victims of terrorist atrocities within the UK in the
same way that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Scheme
compensated the victims of the 7/7 bombings.
A huge amount of work and
campaigning was done in order to persuade the Government that such
a Scheme ought to be brought into place. One of the main
arguments was that British tourists are often now on the frontline
of terrorist atrocities and are in essence easy targets.
Other countries, such as
Israel who have found their nationals victimised by terrorists,
have had such schemes in place for many years.
Jill
Greenfield, a Personal Injury Partner at Field
Fisher Waterhouse LLP, worked alongside victims, their families and
other campaigners to help ensure that their suffering was
recognised and future support would be provided.
"This has been a huge
campaign on behalf of victims. I would hope that there would
be little need to draw upon this Scheme but I suspect there will
be. It is good to know that at least in the future such
victims of terrorist atrocities will be provided with support from
the British Government, something that to date has been
lacking".
"We were always keen to ensure parity of
treatment. British citizens may be targeted by terrorists whether
in the UK or abroad. If you allow those attacked then to suffer
financially, you are merely allowing terrorism to embed itself
further into society, leading to economic terrorism. Individuals
should not pay for what is an attack on British Society".
For further information, please contact:
Jill Greenfield, Partner,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 0207 861 4557/ 07917 769 474
Ibrahim Kamara, PR &
Communications Manager, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861
4120
Paula Nugent, PR
Executive, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4526