Standing up for Victims of Crime

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Oct 2003

The European Parliament is calling for all EU countries to have crime victim compensation schemes and adhere to European standards of compensation.

London MEP and European Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman, Sarah Ludford, said:

"My involvement with individual cases has made me sensitive to the difficulties faced by those who have crimes committed against them when abroad. It is essential that the treatment of victims is not a lottery depending on which Member State is visited."

"The expanding EU rightly sees building an area of freedom, security and justice as a priority. It is unacceptable that while people can travel freely within the EU, they find their rights as victims - or indeed as suspects - vary considerably as they cross borders."

"This proposal is about securing guaranteed minimum standards, not interfering with domestic legal systems. Even the most Euro-sceptic Conservatives must acknowledge the importance of caring for victims of crime, and of securing such protection at a European level."

13 Member States currently have systems for compensating victims of crime, but Italy and Greece do not.

The proposal requires Member States to provide compensation to victims of intentional crime and terrorism committed on their territory. Applications for compensation will be able to be made to an authority in the victim's Member State of residence.

Compensation should cover any direct losses suffered and a maximum limit on damages may not be below 60,000 euro. Compensation should also be extended to close relatives and dependants of victims who have died as a result of injuries caused by the crime.