ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates state compensation in the UK against the backdrop of the government’s duties in terms of the European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes 1983 (the Compensation Convention). The chapter contends that, while the early non-statutory Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) complied with these duties, the current tariff-based CICS may fall short of the requirements of the Compensation Convention in certain respects. In addition, the chapter discusses the government’s recent proposals for reform (Criminal Justice System, 2005b), arguing that the restrictions they seek to place on state compensation almost certainly violate the Compensation Convention.
