Criminal Justice Act 1988

7 (1) The Board may only defer the determination of a claim on the ground that criminal proceedings are current if they consider that the proceedings are likely to be material to their determination of the claim.

(2) Where the Board are satisfied that a claimant is qualified for an award of compensation but do not have all the information they need to assess the amount of the award, they may defer the determination of the claim for such reasonable period as may be appropriate to allow them to obtain that information.

(3) Where the Board are satisfied that a claimant is qualified for an award of compensation but have reason to believe that he may become entitled to an award of compensation under the scheme established by the [S.I. 1988/793 (N.I. 4).] Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, or any order replacing that Order, or under any similar scheme established in any other country or territory, they may defer the determination of his claim for such reasonable period as may be appropriate in order to establish whether he will become entitled to such an award and, if he will, the amount of the award.