The Government has been accused of abdicating responsibilities and doubly punishing firms whose staff are victims of violent crime.

A campaign has been launched by Black Country Chamber of Commerce against proposals which could force companies to pay compensation to staff attacked at work.

The chamber said the scheme would place a punitive burden on hard-pressed businesses. It says the Government is seeking to evade its duty to tackle crime.

The Home Office is consulting businesses and other organisations on plans to change the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

The new consultation document, Rebuilding Lives: Supporting the Victims of Crime, says: "There is an argument for saying employers are best placed to protect employees and minimise risk to them and should, through insurance or otherwise, bear the risk and cost of compensating them."

A similar idea was proposed in 2004 but dropped after a national campaign, led by the chamber. It said the proposed changes meant if someone was a victim of violent crime at work, their employer would be liable for compensation.

Ian Brough, chief executive of the chamber, said: "This philosophy misses the point, which is that crime is the responsibility of the criminal, not the employer of the victim.

"Compensation should be sought from the criminal. When that is not possible, the Government has a responsibility to look after citizens.

"As in 2004, we are lobbying hard for the Home Office to see sense and drop these ill-founded proposals."

Chris Burton, spokesman for the chamber, said there would also be the costs of administering the scheme. He said: "I think the Government is abdicating its responsibilities and this is another burden on business. Firms suffer enough anyway when one of their staff is attacked."

A spokesman for the Home Office said Victims Minister Fiona Mactaggart would decide on whether to proceed with legislation.