XN000022-1976-11-12 — Page 5

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976

COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS

OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE *****

OVER $1.6 MILLION IN COMPENSATION WAS PAID TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE DURING THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1976. THIS WAS STATED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY).

DURING THE YEAR, 856 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 134 CASES OR 19 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE PRECEEDING YEAR. OF THE TOTAL APPLICATIONS, ONLY THREE WERE CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATIONS IN RESPECT OF INJURY SUSTAINED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

THESE APPLICATIONS COVERED 17 PER CENT OF THE 5,001 CASES OF REPORTED CRIMES OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES, AND THIS APPLICATION RATE GREW BY TWO PERCENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR,

AMONG THESE CASES, THE REPORT SAID, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY CASES CONSTITUTED ONLY A QUARTER OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS WHEREAS ASSAULTS AND WOUNDING CASES DOMINATED 68 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL.

THE LARGEST SINGLE AWARD MADE DURING THE YEAR WAS $27,000. IT WAS PAID TO THE WIDOW OF A 29-YEAR-OLD COOKED-FOOD HAWKER WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CATCH THE ROBBER OF A WOMAN.

THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1973, PROVIDES COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS SUSTAINING PERSONAL INJURIES IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE OR CAUSED BY WEAPONS USED BY PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES.

THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED BY A PANEL OF BOARD MEMBERS AND IS PAID OUT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE BOARDS ARE EMPOWERED TO INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 PER CENT IN ANY CASE WHERE THE VICTIM WAS KILLED OR SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF CRIME PREVENTION OR MAKING SUCH ATTEMPTS.

HOWEVER, AN AWARD MAY BE REDUCED OR REJECTED ON ACCOUNT OF FAULT ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM.

THE COMPENSATION SCHEME, THE REPORT SAID, HAD BEEN GENERALLY RECOGNISED AS AN EFFICIENT WAY OF PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS BY THE SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

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