The “excessive” fines and charges issued by NSW Police in its attempts to enforce a number of COVID-19 restrictions have had an “unsustainable impact on courts” and has ultimately slowed the state’s recovery, the Aboriginal Legal Service said.
New data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) revealed that the “increased enforcement activity” by NSW Police during the height of COVID lockdowns has increased court activity. While only a small proportion of breaches resulted in court attendance notices, it still equated to 2,854 additional matters.
Commenting on the increased Local Court matters, Aboriginal Legal Service deputy CEO Anthony Carter said: “NSW courts are already overloaded. If the NSW government doesn’t step in with relief for these tens of thousands of fines, the burden on our courts will be immense, and access to justice will be compromised.”
BOCSAR recently reported that NSW Police had issued an “extraordinary” 36,597 COVID-19 public health order breaches in July and August 2021, which accounted for 90 per cent of breaches issued during the pandemic to date. This enforcement and the increased issuance of fines was the “major factor driving breaches”.
Read more at Australian Lawyers Weekly
