5 years after the start of Covid, outstanding fines mean that the marginalized Australians are still paying the highest price

January 25 marked Five years from the first Covid case He was registered in Australia.

Many of us tried to quickly follow the Pandemia, setting locks and restrictions behind us.

But for some Australians it was not possible. Among the persistent effects of the pandemic is the burden of overdue fines, issued for breaking the restrictions due to Covid.

These often He hit the most difficult groupswho were more often fined and less able to pay. Five years later, marginalized communities He still feels the influence of these penalties.

Our new research Involved surveys and deepened interviews with people who used drugs during a pandemic. They informed that they felt targeted by the police and even harassed while trying to access drug treatment – and many years later many still have fines that you can’t pay.

Thousands of unpaid fines

During the pandemic, the police spent millions of dollars a fine to people who broke the restrictions. Above 50,000 fines were issued in Victoria And around 62,000 in New South Wales .

The fines ranged from USD 200 for not wearing a mask to the face to almost USD 5,000 breaking the rules regarding meetings.

The fines were a means of public health aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.

But for some people struggling with financial and social problems, including those who exploit drugs, this intensified their difficulties.

Studies have shown that some groups have been fined much more often than others, In this people For Sudan and South Sudan origin, Aborigines and Children experiencing an adverse situation.

Although they had public health measures, they reveal deeper patterns regarding a targeted police.

The following connections Social legal services and human rights groups and updated legal advice, NSW government He withdrew all outstanding fines because of Covid At the end of 2024

This is not the case in Victoria. In June 2023, About 30,000 fine They were unique in Victoria and as much as we know, the situation has not changed.

Targeted feeling

We know that people who exploit drugs are already in the face of increased police control at all because of Criminalization of drug use.

We conduct two long -term tests with people using drugs in Victoria, which include participation in the annual survey.

During the pandemic we asked additional questions about the interaction of people with the police. Between March 2020 until May 2022, 1130 participants responded to our survey.

Our new research One in ten reported by the police was found.

One-third of them received at least one fine associated with Covid-mainly for breaking police hours, not wearing a mask on the face or violation of travel restrictions-the owner, which we calculated as almost three times higher than the general population.

However, this is a strict estimation, because the exact data on the number of fines in the general population is not publicly available.

Of those who received fines, most of them were unemployed, more than a quarter was in an unstable apartment or homeless, and more than half were in prison.

We also conducted in -depth interviews with 76 participants. Many told us that they feel that Pandemia gave the police a “excuse” to attack them, which leads to a sedate and lasting influence on their lives.

Punished with a fine during access to services

Interactions with the police were described as full discrimination and harassment. Participants reported that they were detained, searching and a fine, trying to take their daily lives. This could be partly because their circumstances meant that they used public spaces more often – and therefore they were more observable to the police.

Daniel, 41, was punished with a fine of USD 1652 for violating Covid’s principles, which he told us he did not understand. He said:

It was so obvious that they were looking for drugs – I felt that they were doing everything they could to find the reason to get us.

For people using drugs, gaining access to reduction services of damage and drug treatment programs (such as methadone Replacing opioids) is necessary for their health. Some participants told us that they were fined, despite the incurring medical exclusions.

Natasha, 39, was homeless. She said that she was fined while traveling to the needle and syringe program, even though she was in the allowed travel zone.

The police gave her a fine for leaving the house for insignificant purposes. Natasha recognized the absurd situation, asking: “How can you stay (fined for being) outside if you sleep outside?”

Ryan, at the age of 45, was fined in the amount of USD 1,800 when collecting metadone. He described the meeting as “humiliating” and unnecessary, saying that the police seemed more interested in finding drugs than enforcing public health.

Financial and emotional number

In our study, the financial burden on Covid was devastating.

Most could not afford to pay a fine or lacked the certainty of navigation Appeals for competing processes They, which leads to further involvement in a criminal legal system.

For example, Sally, who received many fines while collecting a metadone during a pandemic, said:

At the end of the day they are a government authority and I am nobody – the chances that the win would be tiny.

As a result, unpaid fines for some reportedly led to court orders, some were arrested, and some even reported prison time.

Emotual Toll was equally sedate, and the sense of being and harassing by the police even more eroded their trust in public institutions.

The conversation contacted Victoria’s police about our study, noting that the participants thought that the police were using Pandemia as an excuse for their purpose.

In response, a police spokesman said: “At that time, officers performed their duties on behalf of the Health Director.”

The weight can be raised

Answers to public health should be designed to protect people, not punish them. Moving forward, it is crucial to solve the eternal effect of a fine on Covid.

All Australian governments should follow the NSW leader and Give up the other fines Down relieve financial and emotional burden on sensitive populations.

*The names have been changed.