Victims who suffer sprained ankles, broken toes or bruised ribs would no longer be entitled to compensation under Government plans, Kenneth Clarke has said.
The Justice Secretary said the plans would see payouts target the most serious injuries and prioritise high-quality practical help, rather than helping those with relatively minor injuries.
Mr Clarke also said the compensation scheme would be extended to help British victims of terror attacks abroad.
Under the proposals, rapists and murderers will no longer be able to claim compensation for being victims of crime under the taxpayer-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS).
In the last year alone, more than 3,000 prisoners and ex-prisoners made claims to the scheme.
Mr Clarke said some £57 million has been paid to claimants who are convicted criminals over the last decade and the "scheme in its current form is not sustainable".
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| The Justice Secretary has spoken of plans to prioritise compensation payouts for those with only the most serious injuries |
He also announced a new victims' code, "so victims know what to expect during the investigation and trials process, and know where to turn when things go wrong".
The current system has 14 different routes of complaint and it was unacceptable that "victims report being told too little too late about the progress of their case".
The "system shouldn't be rubbing salt into their wounds", Mr Clarke said.
The victims' surcharge will also be extended. Under present law, only criminals who are fined as part of their punishment are forced to pay the charge - which currently sits at a £15 flat rate. But if the proposals are put through, the charge would be paid by anyone convicted of a criminal offence and could range from the present rate to £120, depending on the severity of the crime.
©Press Association
©Press Association
