EU stands up for crime victims

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Oct 2003

The European Parliament voted today on a proposal to ensure that victims of crime anywhere in the EU can pursue a minimum standard of compensation, regardless of their nationality.

East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP, Bill Newton Dunn, followed the report closely. He tabled a number of amendments designed at ensuring that all consequences of crime would be covered and at making the system easily accessible to all. Speaking after the vote, he said:

"This is a crucial part of securing an EU area of freedom, security and justice. Crime does not stop at national boundaries, so why should compensation? Currently only 13 Member States have state-funded compensation schemes in place and these vary greatly. The amount of compensation that crime victims can obtain should not be a lottery, depending on where the crime was committed.

"Many of us in the East Midlands have suffered when the criminal cannot be located or does not have the means to pay. Victims must not be made to suffer twice - once by the crime itself, and afterwards by the lack of due compensation."

The proposal will now go to the Council of Ministers, which will take the European Parliament's opinion into account before deciding on the final form of the directive.

ENDS