ࡱ> )+(5@ \bjbj22 4XX\(  (($,R~ 999.99&9__ tKE"_0_  _(( _$Z*@9j4((#((MEDIA RELEASE 9 JULY 2024 CRACKDOWN ON OVERDUE FINES HURTS THE HOMELESS Operation Phoenix, a campaign of the Sheriffs Office to crackdown on fine defaulters in Melbourne, is having a discriminatory effect on the citys homeless and disadvantaged. On Monday, almost 50 sheriffs officers began a campaign to execute warrants against people with outstanding fines. The warrants authorise the officers to seize a persons money or property or, if the person is impoverished, to arrest the person. An alliance of community legal organisations has criticised the impact of the crackdown on people who are marginalised or disadvantaged, including the homeless, young people and people with disabilities. Many homeless people accrue significant fines. In some cases, this is attributable to the persons housing status a person is far more likely to incur a fine for drinking in public if they have no home in which to drink. In other cases, this is attributable to the causes underlying a persons homelessness a person who is mentally ill and spends much of their Disability Support Pension on treatment may simply have no money to buy a tram ticket, said Philip Lynch, Coordinator of the PILCH Homeless Persons Legal Clinic. Once a fine is issued, homeless people are more likely to default on payment because they dont receive the notice or courtesy letter or, if they do, they cant pay. Non-payment of a fine eventually results in a warrant being issued. Warrants enable sheriffs officers to arrest poor people, including the homeless, if they dont have any assets against which to levy payment. Despite assurances from the Sheriffs Office that Operation Phoenix would account for peoples extenuating or special circumstances, the campaign appears to be targeting the homeless. Since Monday, we have had three visits from the Sheriffs Office to track down homeless clients, said Mr Lynch. In one case, the officer sought to execute warrants for 24 unpaid fines, 22 of which were withdrawn by issuing agencies more than a month ago in recognition of the clients special circumstances. In another case, the officer tried to execute two warrants in relation to fines that had already been paid off through unpaid community work. In yet another case, the officer was looking for a homeless man who died six months ago. Gary Sullivan, Principal Solicitor of the West Heidelberg Legal Service and Convenor of the Federation of Community Legal Centres PERIN Fines Working Group, says that the impact of executing warrants against people who are marginalised or disadvantaged can be devastating. Cracking down on unpaid fines can be extremely stressful for people in financial hardship, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, people with mental illnesses, young people and the homeless. This is especially the case when the sheriffs officer tries to execute invalid warrants for fines that have already been withdrawn or paid off. According to Sarah Nicholson, Director of Youthlaw, the resources that are being spent tracking down and dealing with disadvantaged fine defaulters would be better directed to constructive responses. Our clients, many of whom are homeless young people, cannot even afford to buy tickets to travel on public transport. It is ludicrous in the first instance, to fine them for not having a valid ticket. But to then spend more money enforcing laws that further entrench our clients financial hardship, is completely ridiculous. Resources should be spent on providing adequate housing, amenities and civic spaces for young people. Our prisons and police cells should not be used as rooves over the heads of the most disadvantaged in our community. Contacts: Gary Sullivan, West Heidelberg Legal Service, 9458 3777, 0409 518 992 Sarah Nicholson, Youthlaw, 9611 2423, 0413 009 031 Philip Lynch, Public Interest Law Clearing House, 9225 6684, 0438 776 433 J [\Źѫѫѫѫh*%CJOJQJ^JaJh*%CJOJQJaJhCJOJQJaJhCJOJQJ^JaJ h56CJOJQJ^JaJh5CJOJQJ^JaJJ U1\`d8d^``gd*%d8d $d8da$ \21h:p*%. A!"#S$S% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontVi@V  Table Normal :V 44 la (k@(No List H@H TOC 1h5;OJPJQJ\^JtH H@H TOC 25CJOJPJQJ\aJtH HH  Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ\JU1 ^000000000000\ \ \gvgv Zgvgv#gv|gv\/TT^[[^8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsdate 200379DayMonthYear ^ ^33^^userGateway C= *%@\\P@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial;SimSun[SO5& zaTahoma"qhKwfKwfqDwFJ J !S24dUU 3QH(?C= -CRACKDOWN ON OVERDUE FINES HURTS THE HOMELESSuseruserOh+'0   0< X d p |.CRACKDOWN ON OVERDUE FINES HURTS THE HOMELESS 1RACuserDOWserser Normal.dotNuserl.d3erMicrosoft Word 10.0@Ik@~d%E@E@*1EJ ՜.+,D՜.+,X hp|  LUA .CRACKDOWN ON OVERDUE FINES HURTS THE HOMELESS Title 8_AdHocReviewCycleID_EmailSubject _AuthorEmail_AuthorEmailDisplayNameOperation PhoenixyNprojects.pilch@vicbar.com.auTHE Phil Lynchl !"#$%&'*Root Entry FwKE,1TableWordDocument4SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8 CompObjj  FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q