§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of crime have been paid compensation by the Criminal Injuries Board(a) in 2000 and (b) in 1999; and how many suffered deductions because they sought to defend themselves when assaulted and were thereby deemed to have contributed to their injuries. [126569]
339W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe figures relate to awards made by both the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (which administers the tariff-based scheme effective from 1 April 1996) and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (which administered the old scheme effective prior to 1 April 1996).
Awards under the schemes are unlikely to be reduced in the case of a blameless victim who acted entirely in self-defence. A reduction on grounds of conduct is made when it is considered that the applicant's own behaviour contributed to the incident in which he or she was injured.
1998–99 1999–2000 Total cases settled 74,859 75,917 Total money awards 40,164 39,700 Total cases rejected 34,695 36,217 Total reduced awards 2,453 2,711 Reduced due to conduct 732 792 Rejected due to conduct 4,123 3,838 The reductions and rejections due to conduct are included in the totals. The total number of reduced awards is also included in the money awards total.