XN000022-1985-02-18 — Page 5

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1985

LIKE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, VICTIMS OF ROBBERY THEFT BURGLARY AND ASSAULT AND WOUNDING MADE UP 90 PER CENT OF THE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR COMPENSATION.

THERE WERE ALSO SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN APPLICATIONS ARISING FROM ARSON 19 AGAINST FOUR PREVIOUSLY - - AND FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES 25 AGAINST FOUR THE YEAR BEFORE.

TWENTY-SIX VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT APPLIED

FOR COMPENSATION, AGAINST 24 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR, 574 HAD BEEN DIRECTLY SUBMITTED BY THE VICTIMS OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND 677 REFERRED BY POLICE. THE OTHERS WERE FROM HOSPITALS, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

+DIRECT APPLICATIONS INCLUDED THOSE INVITED BY THE BOARD'S STAFF IN RESPONSE TO REPORTS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE IN THE MASS MEDIA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, MR MARTIN LEE, SAID IN HIS REPORT.

HE SAID THAT POLICE STATIONS WERE STILL THE MAIN CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE COMPENSATION SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED TO VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.

+CONTINUED EFFORTS WERE MADE TO INVITE PERSONS WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND FAMILIES WHICH SUFFERED THE LOSS OF WAGE- EARNERS IN CRIMINAL INCIDENTS TO SEEK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE BOARDS, HE ADDED.

DURING THE YEAR, PAYMENTS OF $3.26 MILLION WERE MADE IN 583 CRIMINAL INJURY ČASES, TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURY CASES AND 140 REVIEW CASES.

THE HIGHEST SINGLE AWARD OF $40 050 WAS GIVEN TO THE WIDOW AND HER FOUR CHILDREN OF A VICTIM KILLED IN A HOMICIDE CASE IN SEPTEMBER 1983. THE FAMILY WAS ALSO REFERRED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

MR LEE SAID THE BOARDS HAD THE DISCRETION TO INCREASE THE COMPENSATION UP TO 100 PER CENT IF THE VICTIM SUFFERED INJURY OR DEATH IN TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO PREVENT CRIME OR HELP IN THE ARREST OF AN OFFENDER OR A SUSPECT.

THE BOARDS LAST YEAR USED THEIR DISCRETIONARY POWERS TO INCREASE THE NORMAL AWARDS TO 32 CASES.

THE CLEIC SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1973, PROVIDES CASH ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE OR THROUGH THE ACTION OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE EXECUTION IN HIS DUTY.

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