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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1980
$920 000 COMPENSATION PAID TO CRIME VICTIMS IN 1978-79
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THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS RECEIVED 546 APPLICATIONS FOR COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF INJURIES ARISING FROM CRIMES OF VIOLENCE DURING THE YEAR 1978-79.
IN HIS SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, MR ROBERT W.N. WEI, SAID NO CLAIM WAS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR IN RESPECT OF INJURIES CAUSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHILST CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES.
MR WEI SAID THAT IN THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, NEARLY $920 000 WERE PAID OUT AS COMPENSATION FOR INJURY CLAIMS, COMPARED WITH $1.4 MILLION IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS BROUGHT TO $7.16 MILLION THE TOTAL PAYMENTS MADE SINCE THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1973 TO PROVIDE QUICK CASH ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS.
MR WEI SAID THE 546 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED REPRESENTED A DECREASE OF 36 CLAIMS OR 6.2 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF THE PRECEDING YEAR.
HE ATTRIBUTED THE DECREASE TO THE FACT THAT IN CERTAIN FATAL CASES, THERE WERE NO SURVIVING RELATIVES COMING FORWARD TO MAKE A CLAIM.
ANOTHER FACTOR, HE SAID, IS THAT SOME VICTIMS INVOLVED IN ASSAULT AND WOUNDING CASES TOOK LITTLE INTEREST IN APPLYING, BEING THEMSELVES AWARE OF THEIR OWN CONDUCT AND WAY OF LIFE WHICH MIGHT HAVE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CAUSED THEIR INJURIES.
MR WEI SAID THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED COVERED 11 PER CENT OF THE 4 952 REPORTED CASES OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES. OF THESE APPLICATIONS, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY CASES MADE UP 28.8 PER CENT WHILE ASSAULT AND WOULDING CASES REPRESENTED 59.1 PER CENT,
UNDER THE SCHEME, APPLICATIONS ARE CONSIDERED BY A PANEL OF BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH SECRETARIAT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
STAFF OF THE SECRETARIAT, APART FROM PROCESSING CLAIMS, ALSO EXPLORE OTHER WELFARE NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS AND MAKE REFERRALS TO WELFARE AGENCIES FOR ASSISTANCE WHERE NECESSARY.
IN 1978-79 A TOTAL OF 127 REFERRALS WERE MADE FOR ASSISTANCE WHICH INCLUDED FAMILY COUNSELLING, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES, REHABILITATION SERVICES, LEGAL AID AND LABOUR MATTERS.
IN CASES WHERE THE VICTIM IS KILLED OR SUFFERS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF CRIME PREVENTION OR MAKING SUCH ATTEMPTS, THE BOARDS MAY INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 PER CENT ABOVE THE NORMAL AWARD.
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