Criminal Justice Act 1988

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

108 The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the administration of the scheme

(1) The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (“the Board”) shall by that name be a body corporate.

(2) The Board shall administer the scheme for the payment of compensation for criminal injuries established by the following provisions of this Part of this Act (in this Act referred to as “the scheme”) and shall be responsible for determining claims for compensation under the scheme and for paying compensation due under it.

(3) Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Board and Schedule 7 shall have effect with respect to the scheme.

109 Criminal injuries

(1) In this Part of this Act “criminal injury” means any personal injury caused by—

(a) conduct constituting—

(i) an offence which is specified in subsection (3) below; or

(ii) an offence which is not so specified but which requires proof of intent to cause death or personal injury or recklessness as to whether death or personal injury is caused; or

(b) any of the following activities—

(i) the apprehension or attempted apprehension of an offender or suspected offender;

(ii) the prevention or attempted prevention of the commission of an offence; or

(iii) assisting a constable engaged in any of the activities mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) above;

and “personal injury” includes any disease, any harm to a person’s physical or mental condition and pregnancy.

(2) Harm to a person’s mental condition is only a criminal injury if it is attributable—

(a) to his having been put in fear of immediate physical injury to himself or another; or

(b) to his being present when another sustained a criminal injury other than harm to his mental condition.

(3) The offences mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(i) above are—

(a) rape;

(b) assault;

(c) an offence which falls to be charged as arson;

(d) wilful fireraising;

(e) any offence under section 2 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property) or 3 (attempt to cause explosion, or making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property) of the [1883 c. 3.] Explosive Substances Act 1883;

(f) an offence under section 16 (possession of firearm with intent to injure), 17 (use of firearm to resist arrest), 18 (carrying firearm with criminal intent), 19 (carrying firearm in a public place) or 20 (trespassing with firearm) of the [1968 c. 27.] Firearms Act 1968;

(g) an offence under section 1 (riot), 2 (violent disorder) or 3 (affray) of the [1986 c. 64.] Public Order Act 1986;

(h) mobbing;

(j) kidnapping;

(k) false imprisonment;

(l) abduction;

(m) trespass on a railway; and

(n) any attempt to commit an offence mentioned in this subsection.

(4) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, a person’s conduct shall be treated as constituting an offence notwithstanding that he may not be convicted of the offence by reason of age, insanity or diplomatic immunity.

110 Qualifying injuries

(1) Compensation for a criminal injury shall only be payable under this Part of this Act if the injury is a qualifying injury.

(2) A criminal injury is only a qualifying injury if it is sustained—

(a) in Great Britain;

(b) within the limits of the territorial waters adjacent to the United Kingdom;

(c) on board a British ship, a British aircraft or a British hovercraft;

(d) on, under or above an installation in a designated area within the meaning of section 1(7) of the [1964 c. 29.] Continental Shelf Act 1964 or any waters within 500 metres of such an installation; or

(e) on, under or above any waters in respect of which an Order in Council made under section 23 of the [1982 c. 23.] Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 provides that questions arising from acts or omissions on, under or above such waters are to be determined in accordance with the law of England and Wales or the law of Scotland.

(3) In subsection (2) above—

• “British aircraft” means a British-controlled aircraft within the meaning of section 92 of the [1982 c. 16.] Civil Aviation Act 1982 (application of criminal law to aircraft), or one of Her Majesty’s aircraft;

• “British hovercraft” means a British-controlled hovercraft within the meaning of that section (as applied in relation to hovercraft by virtue of provision made under the [1968 c. 59.] Hovercraft Act 1968), or one of Her Majesty’s hovercraft; and

• “British ship” means—

  (a)

  any vessel used in navigation which is owned wholly by persons of the following descriptions, namely—

  (i)

  British citizens; and

  (ii)

  bodies corporate incorporated under the law of some part of, and having their principal place of business in, the United Kingdom; or

  (b)

  one of Her Majesty’s ships.

(4) The references to Her Majesty’s aircraft, hovercraft and ships in subsection (3) above are references to aircraft, hovercraft or ships which belong to, or are exclusively used in the service of, Her Majesty in right of the government of the United Kingdom.

(5) Where any injury which is a criminal injury by virtue of section 109(1)(a) above is sustained by a person not under the age of 18 years who, when he sustains the injury, is living in the same household as the person or, if more than one, any of the persons, responsible for causing it, that injury is not a qualifying injury unless—

(a) the Board are satisfied in relation to the person responsible for causing the injury or, where more than one person is responsible for causing it, each of the persons responsible who was living in the same household as the person injured when the injury was sustained—

(i) that he has been prosecuted in connection with the injury; or

(ii) that there is a sufficient reason why he has not been prosecuted; and

(b) the Board are satisfied—

(i) that the person injured has ceased to live, and does not intend to live again, in the same household as the person responsible for causing the injury or, where more than one person is responsible for causing it, any of the persons responsible who was living in the same household as the person injured when the injury was sustained; or

(ii) that the person injured has not so ceased to live but that the reason why he has not so ceased to live is that circumstances prevent him from doing so.

(6) Where a person accidentally sustains an injury which is a criminal injury only by virtue of section 109(1)(b) above, that injury is not a qualifying injury unless the Board are satisfied that the risk he was taking when he was injured was an exceptional risk which was justified in all the circumstances.

(7) Where any criminal injury is sustained in circumstances such that compensation in respect of the injury is payable—

(a) under any policy of insurance maintained in pursuance of Part VI of the [1972 c. 20.] Road Traffic Act 1972 (compulsory insurance in relation to the use of a motor vehicle on a road); or

(b) under any arrangements for the compensation of victims of uninsured or unidentified drivers to which the Secretary of State is a party;

that injury is not a qualifying injury.

(8) Any reference in this section to a person who is responsible for causing an injury includes, where the injury is a criminal injury by virtue of an offence, a reference to any person who is a party to the commission of that offence.

111 Awards of compensation

(1) An award of compensation may be made—

(a) to any person who satisfies the Board that he has sustained a qualifying injury;

(b) to any person who satisfies the Board that he is a dependant of a person who died after sustaining a qualifying injury (whether or not he died as a result of it);

and in this subsection “satisfies” means satisfies on a balance of probabilities.

(2) The heads of compensation are those specified in subsections (3) to (6) below.

(3) An award may be made under subsection (1)(a) above—

(a) for the injury; and

(b) for any loss of or damage to property of the claimant which occurred in the course of his sustaining the injury,

but compensation shall only be payable under paragraph (b) above if he relied on the property as a physical aid and for damage only if the damage impaired the utility of the property as a physical aid and shall only be for the cost of replacing it with other property of equal utility as a physical aid or carrying out repairs to restore its utility as a physical aid.

(4) If a person dies as a result of a qualifying injury—

(a) an award of compensation for funeral expenses may be made to any person other than a public authority but shall not exceed a reasonable amount;

(b) where a claim falls to be determined in accordance with the rules of the law of England and Wales, an award of compensation for bereavement may be made to any person falling within section 1A(2) of the [1976 c. 30.] Fatal Accidents Act 1976;

(c) where a claim falls to be determined in accordance with the rules of the law of Scotland, an award of compensation for loss of society may be made to any person who is a member of the deceased’s immediate family within the meaning of section 10(2) of the [1976 c. 13.] Damages (Scotland) Act 1976; and

(d) an award may be made to a dependant of the deceased (whether or not an award is made to him or to any other person under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above) in respect of any loss of support suffered by the dependant.

(5) Subject to subsection (8) below, if a person who has sustained a qualifying injury dies otherwise than as a result of it, the Board may award compensation to a dependant of his in respect of any loss which he has suffered by reason—

(a) of any reduction in earnings (not being prospective earnings) by the deceased; and

(b) of any expenses and liabilities incurred by the deceased as a result of the injury.

(6) If—

(a) a woman is awarded compensation for rape; and

(b) she has given birth to a child conceived as a result of the rape; and

(c) at the time of the award she intends to keep the child,

the Board shall award her the additional statutory sum in respect of each child so conceived that she then intends to keep.

(7) The Board may make an interim award, but without prejudice to their powers on a final determination.

(8) If a person who has sustained a qualifying injury dies otherwise than as a result of it, the Board may not award compensation to a dependant of his if before he died he became entitled, otherwise than on an interim award, to a payment of compensation in respect of it.

(9) If—

(a) a deceased person was entitled to payment of compensation for an injury; and

(b) a claim for compensation for the same injury is made by one of his dependants,

any compensation awarded to the dependant shall be reduced by the amount of the compensation to payment of which the deceased was entitled; and proportionate reductions shall be made on awards to two or more dependants.

(10) Where a person has been awarded compensation by the Board in respect of a qualifying injury sustained by him, he may be awarded further compensation in respect of the injury if the Board are satisfied—

(a) that since the date of the previous award his medical condition has deteriorated as a result of having sustained the injury; and

(b) that the extent to which his condition has so deteriorated is such that it would be unjust not to make an award of further compensation to him in respect of the injury.

(11) In this Part of this Act—

• “the additional statutory sum” means £5,000 or such other sum as may for the time being be specified by virtue of an order under subsection (12) below; and

• “dependant”—

  (a)

  where the appropriate law for the determination of a claim is the law of England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the [1976 c. 30.] Fatal Accidents Act 1976; and

  (b)

  where it is the law of Scotland, means a relative within the meaning of the [1976 c. 13.] Damages (Scotland) Act 1976.

(12) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument substitute a different sum for the sum specified in subsection (11) above.

(13) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (12) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

112 Powers to withhold and reduce compen-sation

(1) It is for the claimant to satisfy the Board, on a balance of probabilities—

(a) that he took all reasonable steps within a reasonable time to inform the police, or such other authority as the Board consider appropriate, of the circumstances of the injury to which the claim relates and that he has co-operated fully with the police, or with such other authority as the Board consider appropriate, in bringing to justice any person responsible for causing the injury;

(b) that he has given the Board, or such other authority as the Board consider appropriate, all the assistance in connection with the claim which it is reasonable for him to give; and

(c) that there is no possibility that a person responsible for causing the injury will benefit from an award,

and if a claimant fails so to satisfy the Board, they may, if they think fit, refuse an award or award less than they would otherwise have awarded.

(2) The Board may also, if they think fit, refuse an award or award less than they would otherwise have awarded because of any of the following—

(a) criminal convictions or unlawful conduct of the claimant;

(b) conduct on his part connected with the injury.

(3) The references to convictions and conduct in subsection (2) above are references to convictions and conduct at any time, including a time after the injury.

(4) Where the person who sustained the injury is dead, the references to the claimant in subsections (1)(a) and (b) and (2) above shall include references to the person who sustained that injury.

(5) Where an injury which is a criminal injury by virtue of section 109(1)(a) above is sustained by a person who, when he sustained it—

(a) was under the age of 18 years; and

(b) was living in the same household as the person or, if more than one, any of the persons, responsible for causing it,

the Board shall consider whether, in all the circumstances, it is in the interest of the person who sustained the injury to make an award of compensation to him and shall not make an award unless they are satisfied that it is in his interest.

113 Right of appeal

(1) If the Board have determined a claim after hearing, an appeal on any ground which involves a question of law alone shall lie—

(a) to the High Court if they determined it under the law of England and Wales; and

(b) to the Court of Session if they determined it under the law of Scotland.

(2) No appeal to the Court of Appeal shall be brought from a decision of the High Court under this section except with the leave of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(3) An appeal shall lie, with the leave of the Court of Session or the House of Lords, from any decision of the Court of Session under this section, and such leave may be given on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the Court of Session or the House of Lords may determine.

114 Minimum awards

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide that the Board shall not make any award of compensation, other than an award in respect of funeral expenses, which is less than the minimum amount specified in the order.

(2) An order under this section may make different provision for different cases or classes of case.

(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.

(4) A statutory instrument containing any such order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

115 Reimbursement and recovery

(1) Where—

(a) a person has been convicted in England or Wales of an offence; and

(b) the Board have made an award of compensation in respect of an injury which is a criminal injury by virtue of the offence,

proceedings may be brought by the Board in a county court for an order for the repayment by the offender to the Board of the whole of the award or such part of it as the court thinks fit.

(2) The Board shall only make an application for an order under subsection (1) above if they have reason to believe that the offender is able to pay the whole or a substantial part of the award.

(3) In considering whether to make an order under subsection (1) above, the court shall have regard to the financial position of the offender and to such other matters (not including the question whether he was properly convicted) as the court considers relevant.

(4) Where after an award of compensation under this Part of this Act has been made to a person he receives any payment which, had he received it before the making of the award, would, under any provision contained in Schedule 7 to this Act, have led to any reduction in the amount of compensation payable to him he shall be liable to repay to the Board a sum equal to the amount of that reduction.

(5) The Board may set-off any sum owed to them by any person by virtue of subsection (4) above against any compensation under this Part of this Act to which that person is or becomes entitled.

(6) Where by virtue of any order under section 35 of the [1973 c. 62.] Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (compensation orders against convicted persons) compensation is required to be paid for any personal injury, loss or damage which the Board are satisfied has been the subject of compensation under this Part of this Act, they may by notice require the magistrates' court for the time being having functions in relation to the enforcement of that order to pay to them any amount recovered in pursuance of that order in respect of any such personal injury, loss or damage.

116 Reimbursement and recovery in Scotland

(1) Where any person has been convicted in Scotland of an offence and the Board have made an award of compensation in respect of an injury which is a criminal injury by virtue of the offence, the sheriff may, on a summary application made by the Board, require the offender to reimburse to the Board the whole or any specified part of the award.

(2) In considering whether to make an order under subsection (1) above the sheriff shall have regard to the financial position of the offender and to such other matters (not including the question whether he was properly convicted) as the sheriff considers relevant.

(3) The Board shall only make an application for an order under subsection (1) above if they have reason to believe that the offender is able to pay the whole or a substantial part of the award.

(4) Section 115(4) and (5) above shall have effect in relation to Scotland.

(5) Where by virtue of an order under section 58 of the [1980 c. 62.] Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 (compensation orders against convicted persons) compensation is required to be paid for any personal injury, loss or damage for which the person in whose favour the order is made has been compensated by an award under this Part of this Act, the Board may by notice require the clerk of the court having power to enforce the order to pay to them any amount recovered in pursuance of the order in respect of any such personal injury, loss or damage.

117 Inalienability of compensation awards

Every assignment or in Scotland assignation of, or charge on, an award of compensation under this Part of this Act and every agreement to assign or charge such an award shall be void; and, on the bankruptcy of a person in whose favour an award is made or in Scotland the sequestration of such a person’s estate, the award shall not pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.