Slee Blackwell partner, Elizabeth Duncan, has been speaking to BBC News about the Church of England abuse compensation scheme.
Elizabeth Duncan, a partner in Slee Blackwell’s specialist abuse compensation department, was invited to speak to BBC News about the proposed Church of England abuse compensation scheme.
Elizabeth told the BBC that when full details of the scheme are released she hopes it will provide fair and swift resolution for abuse survivors.
“Above all,” she said, “this compensation scheme must not be a half-hearted, ineffective gesture that offers the many survivors false hope of achieving closure, clarity and justice.”
The scheme is being presented by the Church as the broadest and most ambitious compensation scheme of its kind for victims of abuse, but at the moment the plans are short on detail.
It is believed that the scheme will make compensation available to anyone who has suffered physical, sexual, emotional or spiritual abuse by a representative of the Church. This includes those who have not previously come forward.
Church leaders have previously made a commitment to settle compensation claims quickly where abuse had been acknowledged, but critics say the Church’s response has been far too slow.
Elizabeth is monitoring developments closely and is awaiting full details of the compensation scheme to be announced.