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Compensation for the victims of child sex abuse on Pitcairn

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 9 October 2008

Victims of child sex abuse on Pitcairn Island will be able to apply for compensation the Foreign & Commonwealth Office announced today. The abuse was revealed in 1999 and led to an extensive police investigation and trials resulting in the conviction of eight men.

Foreign Office Minister, Gillian Merron, announced the compensation scheme for the victims of child sex abuse identified during Operation Unique.

She said:

"It is right that we have established a mechanism to offer compensation to the victims of the past child sex abuse on Pitcairn. We are working closely with the UK's Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to ensure the levels of compensation are linked to the amounts awarded in the UK.

"What happened to these women was terrible and no amount of money will take that pain away. But I hope this will give them some recognition of their suffering.

"This is a significant step and it is the right thing to do."

Notes for editors

1. Pitcairn Island is a volcanic island situated in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly 3300 miles from New Zealand - from where the island is administered. It has a population of around 50 - most of whom are descendents of the mutineers from the HMV Bounty.

2. Allegations of sexual abuse were made to a visiting police officer in 1999. This led to an extensive police investigation which revealed widespread child sex abuse over many years. 96 charges were laid against 17 men, both on and off the island. Eight men were convicted of a variety of sexual offences against children.

3. Six of the convicted men received prison terms and two were given community sentences. There is one inmate in HMP Pitcairn who will be eligible for home detention from early December. Others have finished their sentences, been released on licence, or granted home detention.

4. The FCO, DfID and Pitcairn Government have put several safeguarding measures in place to provide protection for the children on the island. These include i) a full-time Family and Community Adviser; ii) child protection training for professionals such as the teacher and doctor; iii) education programmes led by the Family and Community Advisor and teacher; and iv) appointment of a full-time Community Police Officer on secondment from New Zealand Police.

5. The scheme will be administered by the Pitcairn Governor's office in Wellington which will assess each application. If the applications meet the eligibility criteria, the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will offer advice on the levels of compensation to award in accordance with their guidelines. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2009.

6. People wishing to apply can obtain a copy of the guidance and application form from the Pitcairn website (http://www.pitcairn.pn) or from the Governor's office:

Office of the Governor of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
c/o British High Commission
PO Box 1812
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Tel: (+64) (4) 924 2888
Fax: (+64) (4) 924 2831

FCO Press Office: 020 7008 3100

Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AL