Giving evidence to the House of Lords Fraud Act 2006 and Digital Fraud Select Committee last week, Hill recommended the government consider court powers to reimburse victims with any additional funds that are recovered.
Currently, a Confiscation Order identifies the amount a criminal financially benefited from their crime and orders repayment. If the criminal is later found to have additional money and assets, the Confiscation Order can be increased.
However, there is no equivalent power to increase Compensation Orders, which give money back to victims. Therefore, additional funds recovered cannot be given to the victims of the crime.
Hill said: ‘It is right that as much money as possible should be returned to victims of crime but I am concerned current legislation means in some cases we do not have the power to do this.’
