Urgent reforms are essential in the Fiji Police Force to tackle issues such as equipment shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and weak internal controls. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua brought these concerns to light, citing findings from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence following a review of the Fiji Police Force’s 2020-2021 Annual Report.
Qereqeretabua emphasized that while the Force aims for political neutrality, integrity, and accountability, recent instances of misconduct, such as missing drug exhibits, underscore the need for enhanced internal oversight. Public complaints, including rising cases of animal cruelty, have prompted her to call for comprehensive documentation, transparent disciplinary measures, and stronger protection for whistle-blowers.
She stressed the importance of bolstering internal oversight and ensuring that all public complaints, including those related to animal cruelty that are increasingly reported on social media, are properly documented. Additionally, she highlighted the necessity of supporting the K9 Unit, which currently operates with only 13 dogs, and recommended deploying more units to key ports and ensuring salary parity with Customs officers.
The Police Mobile Force and Diving Unit were also mentioned as critically under-resourced, lacking essential vehicles, uniforms, and rescue equipment. Qereqeretabua urged for dedicated budgets and equipment upgrades to improve occupational health and safety compliance.
Modernizing drug operations is another area of urgent need, including the proposal to amend the Fiji Police Act to allow the use of drone footage as evidence, streamline legal processes for drug destruction, and support alternative livelihoods through collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. The field of cybercrime has been identified as particularly under-resourced, leading to calls for increased investment in digital forensics and surveillance technologies.
Opposition MP Joseph Nand pointed to the struggles officers face while enforcing the law in their communities, citing the Naviti Resort case as an example of systemic delays. He urged for timely funding to upgrade infrastructure as well as transport allowances for officers to mitigate out-of-pocket expenses.
In response to these findings, Policing Minister Ioane Naivalurua acknowledged the report and outlined government initiatives, including a $13.5 million budget increase aimed at employing 1,000 new officers and forming the Ministry of Policing. He reassured the Parliament about the government’s dedication to addressing these challenges and acknowledged improvements already made since the report was tabled.
Moreover, the need for drone-assisted operations, expanded K9 coverage, enhanced cooperation on cybercrime investigations, and mental health support due to rising male suicide rates were addressed by Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma, signifying a collective call for reform.
As Qereqeretabua stated, it is imperative that Parliament ensures officers are well-equipped to uphold the law and maintain public trust. The ongoing focus on reform demonstrates a hopeful commitment to fostering a more effective and accountable police force in Fiji, ultimately aiming for enhanced public safety and community confidence in law enforcement.