Vax cert fakers face jail
GOLD Coast police say they will not tolerate unvaccinated people trying to use fake Covid vaccine certificates to enter premises such as cafes and bars.
The Queensland Police Service warns perpetrators trying to skirt around vaccine mandates kicking in on December 17 with “illegitimate” documentation face prison time.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated by police,” a Queensland Police Service statement said in response to Gold Coast Bulletin questions on Wednesday.
“Police are aware of people posting information online as to how to falsely share vaccination certificates,” the statement said. “Anyone who tries to exploit new compliance measures by falsifying their own information is putting others at risk.”
Police also said using a vaccination certificate that is not your own is considered a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months behind bars.
“Any venue which suspects someone may be providing fraudulent information is encouraged to report the matter to Queensland Police Service, or check for a secondary form of ID.”
Queensland Police were not currently investigating any specific instances of forged vaccination certificates, the statement said.
The strong response from police comes after a top lawyer said police and businesses would face a near impossible task to check for fake certificates from December 17.
Gold Coast criminal lawyer Bill Potts said an “overworked and overstretched” police sector already had their hands full with far more serious crimes, and that calling police out to businesses in every instance of certificate concern would be “unrealistic”. Mr Potts said fines similar to parking tickets would likely be given out for issues in relation to Covid-19 certificates.
He also added many businesses would have an “economic imperative” to ignore the law when checking legitimacy of certificates.
The Queensland government is requiring all patrons at non-essential settings such as bars, cafes, restaurants and more to be double vaccinated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken out against the mandate, saying people should be able to go and “get a cup of coffee” regardless of their vaccine status. Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the comment undermined the state vaccine rollout.
ANY VENUE WHICH SUSPECTS SOMEONE MAY BE PROVIDING FRAUDULENT INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED TO REPORT THE MATTER TO POLICE
QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE