Christmas and New Year are times of celebration for most, filled with food, drink, mince pies and a whole lot of joy. But, amongst all the love and laughter, statistics show it is also the most popular time of year for crime.
With the dark nights, people being out and about, and a great deal of alcohol being drunk, this can be the perfect time for criminals to strike.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) crimes including robberies, break-ins and thefts all increase over the Christmas period, as criminals know that expensive presents sit under the tree at every house – making them an easy target.
But, it’s not just thefts and burglaries that increase over the festive period. As people gulp down festive tipples, things can easily take a turn for the worst as statistics show that drink-fuelled assaults, threats and violent incidents increase over Christmas and New Year.
According to an alcohol awareness charity, alcohol has been recognised as playing a huge role in violence due to its ability to disrupt normal brain functioning. And one study showed that 60% of sexual offenders, and 57% of men involved in domestic violence were drinking at the time of the offence.
Meanwhile, statistics show that each year, domestic abuse reports rise over the Christmas period. According to Women’s Aid charity, this can often be due to people drinking more alcohol, pressures of spending time together, and more social occasions – which can often trigger jealousy and controlling behaviour in abusers.
A spokesperson for Boston Women’s Aid said:
“We often see a rise in referrals leading up to and just after Christmas. This is often because Christmas comes with a lot of expectations, with families spending more time at home together, increased financial pressures – plus the alcohol that’s often involved.
“It’s a time when the children are on holiday and do not have school to escape to, and this can have a massive impact on them and put a strain on some families. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many families, it can be very frightening and isolating.”
Figures show that the police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds, yet it is estimated that less than 24% of domestic abuse crime is reported to the police. And this figure rises over the two-week Christmas period.
Criminal Injury (CICA) Claims
Victims of abuse or violent crimes may be able to claim compensation for their injuries under the CICA scheme. Since 1964, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and its predecessor (Criminal Injuries Compensation Board), has paid over £3 billion in compensation.
In 1996, a statutory scheme was introduced under the provisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. Designed to compensate blameless victims of violent crimes including physical and sexual assaults, the CICA has been revised in 2001, 2008 and 2012, compensating for over 300 different injuries ranging in compensation between £1,000 – £250,000.
Individuals may be eligible for an award if they sustain a criminal injury directly attributable to being a direct victim of a crime of violence committed in a relevant place.
What is a ‘Crime of Violence’
The CICA defined a ‘Crime of Violence’ as a crime which, by intention or recklessness, involves any of the following:
- A physical attack
- Any other act (or failure to act) of a violent nature which causes physical injury to a person
- A threat against a person causing fear of immediate violence
- Sexual assault
- Arson
What is a ‘Relevant Place’
A relevant place means Great Britain. However, there are also some further niche areas that fall under the CICA’s definition. This includes a British-controlled aircraft, a British-controlled hovercraft, or a lighthouse off the coast of Great Britain.
CICA – How to make a claim
The CICA scheme has a strict criteria to make a successful claim which is why using Oakwood Scotland Solicitors can help. For example, the scheme has time limits in place as to when you can make a claim, as well as how previous convictions might affect a claim.
If you have been a victim of abuse or violent crime, an application must be submitted within two years of the crime. If an applicant was a child under the age of 18 on the date of the criminal incident, they have until they turn 20 years old to submit a claim.
The crime must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonable practicable, and the applicant must have fully co-operated with the police. The applicant must also fully co-operate with the CICA claims officer.
There are also rules in place if you have an unspent conviction yourself.
Further reading
For more information about CICA claims, check out our resource.
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