Considering the impact of CIN more broadly: Alternative formats available on request to PIAC - Contact PIAC
On 1 November 2007 NSW Police rolled out the State-wide Criminal Infringement Notices (CIN) scheme which allowed police to issue on-the-spot fines for a number of minor criminal offences including offensive behaviour, offensive language and shoplifting.The NSW Ombudsman conducted a review of the CIN scheme during the initial 12-month trial period. As a result, a further review by the NSW Ombudsman is being conducting into how the CIN scheme specifically impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.PIAC’s submission makes the point that the scope of this further review should be expanded to include all vulnerable groups who are negatively impacted upon the CIN scheme, including homeless people. PIAC’s submission considers the reforms to the fines system generally as a result of the Fines Further Amendment Act 2008 and the introduction of Work and Development Orders as a non-monetary means of addressing outstanding fines. PIAC makes the point that being ATSI does not, on its own, qualify a person to apply to participate in a Work and Development Order arrangement so many ATSI people may fall outside the benefit offered by the new reforms