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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require offenders who have committed offences of theft or criminal damage and who are required to pay an on-the-spot fine to be registered in such a way as to enable their victims to seek compensation from the offender. [196114] Ms Blears: Penalty notices for theft and criminal damage will be targeted at low level offences, normally those committed by first time offenders. The operational guidance issued to the police advises that the value should not exceed £200 for theft with values over £100 deemed exceptional, and over £500 for criminal damage with values above £300 deemed exceptional. Where an officer considers an offence suitable for a fixed penalty notice he is required to consult the victim and advise that this will remove the possibility of a criminal court awarding a compensation order. However, compensation may still be pursued through the civil courts. If a victim wished to seek compensation he would be able to cite the issue of a penalty notice for the offence as evidence and the police would provide details of the offence and offender to facilitate this process. It is expected that fixed penalty notices will be issued for offences usually involving low values where the victim is likely to benefit by not having to attend court and give evidence, but can see the offender punished by receiving an on the spot fine of £80.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

196114; 426 c1454W;426 c1458W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Compensation Crime Damage Criminal injuries compensation Fixed penalties Fines Offenders Registration Victims Theft

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk