The United Kingdom marked its first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism on Friday, a development stemming from a Home Office review that identified a need for enhanced support for those affected by attacks. However, many survivors and their advocates believe further action is necessary.
A report released by Survivors Against Terror (SAT) highlighted that while psychological support for victims has seen improvements, the state compensation scheme, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, has not progressed. The scheme, responsible for taxpayer-funded payouts for victims of violent crime, including terrorism, disbursed £180 million last year.
Brendan Cox, co-founder of SAT and whose wife, MP Jo Cox, was murdered in 2016, welcomed the national day but emphasized that survivors also seek a "moment of accountability." He pointed to systemic issues within the compensation process, stating that survivors can only claim for their first three injuries, despite potentially sustaining many more. "We're not talking large sums of money, we're talking about a process that dehumanises people where if you're a survivor of a terror attack, you can only claim for the first three injuries you have despite the fact you have 80 or 90 or 100 pieces of shrapnel in your body," Cox explained.
Lisa Ghiggini, a survivor of the 2019 Fishmonger's Hall attack, shared her experience, noting that some members of SAT still lack the resources for essential home modifications. "At the moment we still have members who don't have the resources to build a downstairs toilet following attacks that have left them struggling to walk," she said.
The establishment of the national day was informed by a review conducted by the Home Office. The SAT report suggests that current compensation mechanisms do not adequately address the long-term needs of survivors, particularly concerning physical accessibility and the number of compensable injuries.