ABSTRACT
To qualify for compensation the crime must be reported to the police within 48 hours of its occurrence, and the victim’s lawyer must serve a notice of intention to apply for compensation on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland within 28 days. Within three months of the service of this notice of intention, the application for compensation must then be made. These time limits can be extended in extraordinary circumstances to a maximum of three years from the date of injury.3 The quantum of awards for compensation by the criminal courts are assessed on the same basis as the civil courts, ie the injury to the victim. The awarding of damages does not prevent a civil claim being made, but recovery would be subject to reimbursement.
