A government body which compensates victims of crime has been given a budget of $356,000 less this year than it spent in 2008/9 — despite a recent upsurge in murders and shootings.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) has been allocated $404,000 for 2010/11 to help the dependents of those killed through violent crime or people themselves injured — the same amount budgeted the previous year.

But the board spent $760,000 in the financial year 2008/9 — before the number of shooting incidents began to soar at what Police have termed "a substantial rate".

As reported yesterday, there have been 92 reports of gunfire in the first five-and-half months of 2010 — matching the figure for the whole of 2009.

The latest fatal shooting victim, Frederick Maybury, was the sixth man killed this year and the tenth since May 22, 2009. Like the majority of those murdered, the 34-year-old was a father and he left behind two small children.

Twelve youngsters in total have been left without a father as a result of the ten gang-related slayings, according to newspaper reports about the victims. Five of the murders took place before this year's Budget was announced by Government.

The dependents of murder victims can seek financial compensation from the publicly funded CICB, as can those who suffer injury as a result of violent crime.

The most they can get is $100,000 and many applicants receive far less.

There were 52 claims for cash to the CICB in 2009/10, 70 in 2008/9 and 48 in 200?, according to figures published by Government. The average time to complete a compensation claim is 15 months.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller is chairman of the board. Asked if she was expecting a rise in claims based on the increased level of violent crime, she replied: "We have no means of answering that question."

She said it was "impossible to answer without speculating" whether the board would struggle to handle an upsurge or whether an increase would increase the processing time for claims. "We take things in our stride," said the judge.

Asked whether the $404,000 was finite or whether more could be dished out if there were many more claims, Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said: "That would have to be evaluated as the events develop. Budget allocation is a question for the Bermuda Government and not the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board."

Injured victims of gun violence in recent months have included convicted criminals, some of whom are suspected to be members of gangs themselves.

Under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Act, they could apply for compensation and, if injured more than once, they could apply each time they fall victim to violent crime.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said each claim was assessed on its merit.

The CICB submits annual reports to the Attorney General — but the most recent one available to the public is seven years out of date.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said reports had been submitted to the AG for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and that only the 2009 report was outstanding.

But the last time a report was tabled in the House of Assembly — for the year 2003 — was in February 2006, according to the Clerk to the Legislature.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said the reports were available to the public after being placed before the House. "Any questions about the tabling of the CICB reports or requests for copies of same should be directed to the AG," she added.

Attorney General Kim Wilson declined to be interviewed about the CICB and The Royal Gazette was unable to get a copy of any of the recent annual reports in time for this article.

Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz said last night: "It is not acceptable for these reports to be outstanding for so long and we expect them to be brought up to date forthwith."

The Budget book for 2010/11 says the average value of criminal injury claims was $61,385 two years ago and $1 million last year, though the latter figure is believed to be a typing error.

The secretary to the CICB said she was unable to provide a more accurate amount.