Section 37 – Forfeiture: application of proceeds to compensate victims
101.Subsection (1) of section 37 inserts a new paragraph 4A into Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the 2000 Act. Paragraph 4A(1) allows a court making a forfeiture order in a case where the offender has been convicted of an offence which has resulted in another person suffering personal injury, loss or damage, or where any such offence is taken into consideration, to order that an amount is to be paid to that person out of the proceeds of the forfeiture. The court may specify a sum which the amount to be paid may not exceed.
102.Paragraph 4A(2) defines for this purpose the proceeds of forfeiture as being the aggregate amount of any forfeited money plus the proceeds of any sale or disposal of forfeited property, after deduction of the costs of the sale or disposal. This sum will then be reduced by the amount of any payment made under paragraph 2(1)(d) (to a person with an interest in the property) or 3(1) (to a receiver appointed to implement the forfeiture order) of Schedule 4 to the 2000 Act.
103.Paragraph 4A(3) provides that a court may only make an order under this paragraph if it is satisfied that it would have made an order under section 130 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (which is the general power under which a court may make a compensation order on conviction) requiring the offender to pay compensation, if it had not been for the inadequacy of the offender’s means.
104.Subsection (2) inserts new paragraph 17A into Part 2 of Schedule 4 to the 2000 Act, making similar provision in Scotland; and subsection (3) inserts new paragraph 32A into Part 3 of Schedule 4, making similar provision for Northern Ireland.