UK to Drunk Rape Victim, “You Were Asking for It.”

The UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was set up in 1964 to make payments to those unlucky enough to become a victim of violent crime. A recent rape victim has had her compensation slashed because apparently the CICA deemed her intoxication may have played a part in provoking the incident. Doesn't it sound like the CICA is implying that she was asking for it?

Her case is not unique, in at least 14 cases this year payments have been reduced to rape victims apparently because CICA must have also found part of the problem due to their drinking. Even though the CICA denies that it place blame on the victims, the wording of their own compensation statement seems to contradict this statement.

The issue came to light after one rape victim, referred to only as Helen, received a letter from the CICA saying her compensation was being cut from £11,000 to £8,250. It said: 'The evidence that we have shows that your excessive consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident'. ~ DailyMail

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Obviously the CICA is now under some intense scrutiny and has already been forced to overturn the ruling in Helen’s case and many more are sure to follow. Although I can see the reasoning, however flawed, behind their initial stance in these cases- it is difficult to believe that these officials could be so dense, and it took so long before they were called on it.

One thing that I will point out though is the fact that drinking reduces one’s situational awareness and compromises decision making. TDA is no fool, I wouldn’t dream of placing any blame at the feet of these victims… but I cannot help but wonder if they had been sober would they have been able to successfully fend off the attacker or avoided the dangerous environment in the first place.