The changing landscape of justice in England and Wales is opening new doors for those affected by historic abuse. These shifts serve as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to come forward.
If you are ready to speak up about past suffering, we are here to provide the platform you need and the expert legal support required to secure the compensation you are owed.
National Statistics (ONS) reveal a sobering reality
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals a sobering reality of the landscape of justice in England and Wales. As recorded sex crimes have reached a record high of 214,816 incidents in a single year, equivalent to 588 every day.
While these figures are daunting, they also represent a powerful trend: survivors are finding their voices. More than ever, people are coming forward to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable for non-recent or “historic” abuse.
At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we are committed to transforming these statistics into a platform for justice, helping survivors reclaim their power.
Understanding the Scale of the Issue
The rise in reported crimes is partly due to improved police recording and new legislation, such as the Online Safety Act 2024. However, while violent crime overall has seen a slight dip, the demand for accountability in sexual offences continues to grow.
Despite these record reports, the proportion of crimes resulting in a suspect being charged remains low (7.8%). This gap highlights why civil claims and redress schemes are vital tools for survivors seeking acknowledgement and financial stability.
What Defines a “Historic Abuse” Claim?
Historic abuse (often called “non-recent” or “non-accidental” abuse) refers to physical, sexual, or emotional attacks that occurred in the past. These often involve a perpetrator who held a position of trust or power.
A claim can be made for the physical impact on your health, but also, and often more importantly, it can be made for any damage it may have caused to your mental health. Compensation can be claimed for personal injury and also any financial losses you may have suffered as a result of your ill health.
Common environments for historic abuse include:
Seeking Justice: Your Pathways to Redress
If you have suffered abuse whether its present or in the past, there are several avenues available to help you secure compensation for physical injury, mental health trauma, and financial losses.
- Civil Claims & Vicarious Liability
Often, individual perpetrators lack the funds to pay compensation. However, we can often hold the organisation responsible if the abuse happened during the perpetrator’s employment.
This is known as “vicarious liability,” and claims are typically made against the organisation’s insurance.
- Redress Schemes
Several specific schemes have been established to provide a more streamlined path to compensation:
- The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
The CICA is a government-funded body that compensates victims of violent crime. While they usually require incidents to be reported to the police quickly, exceptions are often made for historic abuse, especially if the victim was a child at the time or did not realise the gravity of the situation.
Frequently asked questions:
Do I have a claim?
At Oakwood Solicitors, our trauma-experienced team provides a supportive, confidential space to discuss your legal options.
We specialise in CICA claims, navigating complex eligibility rules on your behalf. Even if you didn’t report the abuse immediately, particularly in historic or childhood cases, you may still be eligible for an award.
By using a solicitor to make your claim, you will have a higher chance of a successful outcome with the CICA. Let us handle the legal process to maximise your chances of success.
Should I make a claim?
Before deciding on whether making a claim is the best option for you, it’s important to seek some initial legal advice about the merits. Here at Oakwood Solicitors, we offer a free assessment and would be happy to discuss this with you and no charge.
If you find a Solicitor who is of the view that your claim does have merit, then it is important to also consider the impact on your health that taking a claim forward may have.
Litigation can be a stressful process and may have an adverse impact on your health. We are not doctors, so we cannot give you medical advice, but we are under a duty to advise you that pursuing a claim will be a reminder of the trauma of the abuse whilst the claim is ongoing, and this may hurt your mental health.
Please also note that the only outcome of a successful claim is financial compensation. You may see the litigation as a mechanism for obtaining answers, but the majority of cases settle out of Court, which may result in many of your questions remaining unanswered.
You may be advised by your doctors that revisiting the trauma of the abuse you suffered may set you back in your recovery. The decision to proceed must be your own, in conjunction with your medical advisors.
If you agree to proceed with a claim, then our team will support you as best as they can and try to make the process as stress-free as possible.
Who is responsible?
The perpetrators of abuse are usually individuals who have no financial means, and, by the time a claim is made, may have died or are difficult to trace. It is therefore common practice to look at whether there are any organisations or companies that could be held responsible for the perpetrators’ acts.
For example, there have been many cases where the Court has accepted that sexual abuse could be an act carried out during the course of employment, meaning that the employer of the perpetrator would be responsible for the conduct in question.
It is a legal obligation for an employer to hold liability insurance, which would cover any claims for personal injury made against them. It is a claim made against such insurance, which we would recommend as the best option for any historic abuse claim which you may wish to make.
Will I have to go to court?
If the case did not settle, then ultimately the matter would proceed to Court where a Judge would decide. Most cases, however, do settle out of Court, so although this is an unlikely eventuality, we cannot rule it out as an impossibility.
If you do have any concerns about this during the process of your claim, then we would be happy to discuss this with you and address any concerns you may have.
Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make my claim?
Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your historical abuse claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny.
If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation, meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.
You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we can assign you one of our female advisors to carry out your claim.
Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.
Further information:
Historic Abuse Claims.
Sex crimes soar to record levels with average of 588 every day, while drug offences and shoplifting continue to rise in new official stats.
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
We understand that coming forward is a daunting step. Our specialist team is experienced in handling trauma-informed cases with the sensitivity they deserve. You don’t have to carry the weight of the past alone, get in touch today for a free consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
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Molly Frost joined the Firm in June 2024 and specializes in abuse compensation claims. Having over 20 years’ experience helping survivors recover compensation, she is considered an expert in her fie…
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Historic abuse claims FAQ
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Historic sexual abuse claims
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