Less compensation for acquitted suspects

In 2005, the total amount of compensation paid to former suspects was 2 percent down on 2004. The number of claims awarded, on the other hand, increased.

Number of requests tripled since 1995

If a suspect is eventually acquitted, he/she may submit a request to be compensated for damage suffered as a result of wrongful detention and legal costs.
In 2005, the number of requests for financial compensation totalled 5.7 thousand, more than 7 percent up on 2004 and nearly three times as many as in 1995.
Over four in ten requests concern wrongful detention (2.4 thousand requests). This is a 10 percent increase compared to 2004. The number of requests for financial compensation rose by 6 percent over the same period.

Requests for compensation

Total amount paid for compensation 2 percent down

The number of compensation claims awarded in 2005 totalled 5 thousand, a 9 percent increase on the previous year. The amount involved was 13.1 million euro, a decrease by more than 2 percent on 2004.
In 1995, no more than 1.7 thousand compensation claims were awarded; the amount involved was 4.4 million euro.
The total amount paid to former suspects held in wrongful detention rose in 2005 by nearly 4 percent to 5.4 million euro. Compensation payments for legal costs fell by over 6 percent to 7.6 million euro in 2004.

Total amount received as compensation

Average compensation payment 10 percent down
The amount paid for compensation averaged 2.6 thousand euro in 2005, a decrease by 10 percent on 2004 (2.9  thousand euro per claim). The average amount awarded has decreased continuously since 2002, when it stood at 4 thousand euro.

Average amount awarded

Nynke de Lange