Open consultation Consultation on compensation for miscarriages of justice options for Northern Ireland statutory compensation limits

Summary

The purpose of this consultation document is to seek views on proposals to amend the overall compensation limits in miscarriage of justice cases administered by the Department.

Documents

• Consultation for miscarriage of justice options Adobe PDF (339 KB)
• Equality Screening Adobe PDF (331 KB)
• Rural needs impact assessment Adobe PDF (410 KB)

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Consultation description

The primary proposal under consideration is a 30% uplift to the existing limits, bringing Northern Ireland into line with the position recently adopted in England and Wales.

The new limits would be £1.3 million where an individual has spent more than 10 years in custody and £650,000 in any other case. 

The consultation also invites initial views on two broader structural reforms – the removal of statutory compensation limits, and the separation of legal fees from compensation awards. Both would require primary legislation. 

Respondents are invited to answer 6 consultation questions