Child Grooming Victims: Compensation Awards

Debate between Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne and Baroness Levitt

Thursday 20th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure compensation awards to victims of child grooming scandals are made in a timely way.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Baroness Levitt) (Lab)]

My Lords, there are three routes by which victims of child grooming may be awarded compensation. First, following a criminal conviction, a court can order compensation to be paid to the victim, but the criminal courts cannot embark on a detailed inquiry as to the extent of any injury, loss or damage. Secondly, victims can bring an action for damages for personal injury in the civil courts; the Government are abolishing the three-year limitation period so that it no longer operates as a barrier to compensation for such victims. Thirdly and finally, victims can apply to the criminal injuries compensation scheme. These awards are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the majority are decided within 12 months.

[Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (Con)]

I thank the Minister for that very helpful reply and for our earlier meeting, but might I request a further meeting? These young ladies, who may not all have the strength of Madame Pelicot, will still be living in a highly corrupted community in terms of the activities that were perpetrated upon them earlier. Some of them may not be relevant for an award; none the less, the entire community does not seem to be honouring British law with regard to respect for women, young women and children. Would the Minister be willing to have a meeting, to discuss not the award but the wider implications which perhaps we might manage to do something to help?

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

It is always a pleasure to speak to the noble Baroness, and the answer is yes.