79Payments by the State if police or protective services officer liable

79 Payments by the State if police or protective services officer liable (1) This section applies if, on a police tort claim, a person (***the claimant***) is awarded damages against a police officer or protective services officer in respect of a police tort committed by the officer. (2) The Minister, on behalf of the State, must pay an amount to the claimant, not exceeding the amount of damages and any costs ordered to be paid to the claimant, if the Minister is satisfied that— (a) the claimant is unlikely to recover the amount from the officer who committed the police tort; and (b) the claimant has exhausted all other avenues to recover the amount. The amount may be recoverable by the claimant from a co-defendant or an insurer.