Work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (CICT)
The Tribunal exists to determine appeals relating to victims of crime, their eligibility for compensation and the amount of compensation under the Criminal Injury Compensation Schemes. The Tribunal receives in the region of 1200 appeals per year. The Tribunal considers whether a crime of violence has taken place, the type and level of injury to be compensated, loss of earnings, special expenses, criminal convictions and reductions for conduct. Decisions of the CICT can be challenged by application to the Upper Tribunal for Judicial Review.
There have been four iterations of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, in 1996, 2001, 2008 and 2012 (the last was amended in 2020). All new applications are made under the amended 2012 Scheme. Each of the four Schemes provides a right of appeal in respect of a “review decision” by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
The Respondent in each case is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
All hearings are held in private unless all parties consent and it is in the interests of justice to make public (Rule 30(2)).
The CICT is led by a Principal Judge (presently Acting Principal Judge Ita Farrelly) who reports to the Chamber President.
There are 32 CICT salaried tribunal judges, 16 fee-paid Judges, 32 Medical Members, 28 Lay Members (of which 2 are financially qualified). The administrative base is in Glasgow with 23 staff. The Tribunal sits nationally, at several HMCTS venues as well as remotely. Decisions can be made by a single judge sitting alone without a hearing or at oral hearing with a minimum of two Tribunal members.
The Tribunal is undergoing changes to processes and procedures. These include a new bench book, updated Decision & Direction Notices, digital reform, a revised interlocutory process to greater progress cases and a review of Practice Statements.