BBC NEWS | UK | Rape compensation still not paid

Well how come that doesn't surprise me one bit.
For those who are regular readers of The Tao will know that this is a topic which I have a great deal of interest and personal experience.
(See here and here for previous articles)



BBC NEWS | UK | Rape compensation still not paid

Let's get this straight.
Compensation is not paid to the victims because it used by the government to pay itself.

I will explain.

You have been the victim of an attack. You have gone through all the hoops and over all the hurdles that are placed in your way towards any form of justice, much to the detriment of your health so you have not been able to work or have lost your career.
The state have been paying you incapacity benefit because of this, so any compensation that you receive firstly has to go back to the government to pay for the privilege of receiving state support for being ill due to no fault of your own.

Compare to the fate of the perpetrator, either they are not convicted or, if they are, receive a community punishment, such as painting a local school (saving the local authorities thousands) or are incarcerated in one of the states prisons.
Both of these approaches deal with the rehabilitation of the offender and to pay back something to society.

In the course of these events, many thousands are spent towards this goal. There are the wages of all the 'experts' who will manage the perp. The Judge, the probation service, the police, the social worker. the supervisor of the project or the staff at the prisons, etc, all on a good wage.

The sex offender is given plenty of support to change their ways. They can be offered training and therapy. They can earn money whilst being in prison, if they are ill and unable to work they can claim the same benefits as the victim, but do not have to pay it back if they 'recover' enough to get a job.

Few of these support mechanisms exist for the victims and where they do they are patchy and uncoordinated.

Does any of this seem fair?

As I said, I am not surprised, given that most students, those who will go on to be our police officers, social workers, judges etc believe that most women invite rape or even that it is a consequence of their actions.

Sphere: Related Content