More than £560,000 was paid out to victims of violent crime in Jersey in 2024.
Newly released figures show that the island’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Board received 61 applications for compensation last year.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board considers ex gratia payments for victims of violent crime – or their dependants – where offenders cannot be made to pay compensation themselves.
In total, £564,399.24 was awarded in compensation – including £12,500 in interim payments to support victims while claims were being assessed.
The statistics were released in a report confirming the appointment of Advocate Debbie Corbel as the new chair of the Board.
Advocate Corbel has been a member of the Board since 2021 and was identified as the most experienced legal member.
Her appointment, which sees her replace Advocate Lee Ingram, whose term has come to an end, was confirmed in a Ministerial Decision signed by Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat on 31 December.
In a report accompanying the Ministerial Decision approving the appointment, Advocate Corbel was described as an “excellent communicator, committed to conducting the work of the Board fairly and compassionately”.
She was also praised for her “very strong understanding of the scheme rules”, and for highlighting potential “areas for improvement”, including links with support services such as Victims First Jersey.
Her appointment is for an initial four-year term, during which she will oversee decisions on compensation claims that continue to amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.