What to Do if You Need to Make a Sexual Abuse Claim*

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The first step in making a sexual abuse claim is telling someone about the abuse. You will have to name the abuser and provide evidence to support your claim. The police will then decide which actions to take against your abuser. Even if your case does not go to court or there is not a conviction, the CICA might still offer compensation for sexual abuse claims.

1. Report Sexual Abuse to Police

If you need to make a sexual abuse claim, you must report the incidences of sexual abuse to the local police force. You should do this as soon as possible, although you can report cases of historical sexual abuse if you were a child at the time and you are now an adult. The law enforcement teams will investigate and attempt to bring the perpetrator of abuse to justice.

Even if the police are unable to press charges against your abuser or they are not convicted, you should still receive a Police Reference Number. This means that you will have a record of the crime which you can refer to when making further legal claims. You do not have to wait for police investigations or legal proceedings to be completed before claiming compensation.

1. Collect and Keep Evidence

As distressing as going over your experience of sexual abuse can be, it is vital to gather any evidence that can corroborate your story. You should undergo a medical examination and a psychological assessment if applicable, and obtain medical records of the results of these. It is important to have an official diagnosis of the severity of the sexual abuse and its effects.

Examples of evidence that you should collect and submit, or obtain copies of from the police, include photographs, witness testimonies, and written messages or physical documents that support your account. You should also document any financial losses that occur as a result of the abuse and its impact on your wellbeing, as this can affect your compensation award. 

1. Seek Professional Advice

You should speak to friends and/or family about the sexual abuse so that they can be there for you. Beyond moral and emotional support, however, you should consult a relevant charity or a solicitor for professional legal advice. They can help you to build your case and consider the likelihood of successful claims. For example, if you have a criminal conviction, it may fail.

An expert will be able to assist you in making a strong claim and pursuing it, even if this means appealing against a rejection. Many solicitors offer a “no win, no fee” service which means that you will not have to pay the legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful, or they will deduct the legal fees from your compensation award if you do receive money from the CICA.

1. Apply As Soon as Possible

Once you have reported the sexual abuse to the police and obtained a reference number, you have 2 years to apply for financial compensation for sexual abuse from the CICA. In some cases where you have a valid reason for failing to apply within this time, such as historical abuse claims or cases of mental incapacity, the CICA might accept late claims. 

The recent abolishment of the “same roof rule” which previously prevented many sexual abuse victims from claiming compensation means that they could now be eligible to claim successfully. This applies for victims who experienced the abuse between August 1964 and September 1979 and lived with their abuser. These claimants have until June 2021 to apply.