THIS week there were media reports on Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu’s intention to strategically reform the force and make it ‘clean’.
This is a development that we must welcome and applaud.
But on top of Tudravu’s ‘to do’ list should be orienting his men to understand the crucial role they play as defenders of human rights and protectors of the law.
Only four days ago, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution noted that out of the 417 charges filed in the High Courts of Fiji last year by the ODPP, 47 accused persons were under the age of 18 while there were nine police officers.
In 2024, of the 250 people charged with a total of 651 counts of serious sexual offences, four were police officers. In that same period, 417 people were charged with a total of 513 counts of serious crime offences (non-sexual offences). Nine were police officers.
For some time now, every time the ODDP issues an update on rape and sexual offences and serious crimes, police officers would be part of the statistics.
Last month (January 20) a police officer was charged with one count of unlawful possessions of illicit drugs. He was caught with 6037 branches of dried leaves after a search was conducted at his home.
This shows, among other things, our law enforcers need help as a first line of defence for the protection and promotion of human rights in Fiji.
According to experts, police officers and law enforcement agencies that respect human rights reap benefits and advance the very objectives of law enforcement. They contribute to building credible institutions that ‘uphold professionalism, legality and non-discrimination’.
But no aggressive training and administrative planning alone can change police attitudes and actions entirely. What is needed is an overhaul of organisational practice and police culture. That requires some serious hard work, which Tudravu is willing to undertake.
According to other serious crime statistics (non-sexual offences) for January 2022 released by the ODPP, 68 people were charged with a range of serious crimes. Of this number, 11 were police officers.
ODPP statistics further show that from 2015 to 2020, 110 Fijian police officers were charged with assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and act with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. If one thing, the 5-year record points to underlying issues within our security forces. It requires urgent attention and public scrutiny.
Prior to the 2022 national elections, The Fiji Times highlighted concerns in the 2021 United States Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Fiji that security forces were not subjected to independent oversight.
The report said impunity remained a problem in Fiji’s security forces and that slow judicial processes contributed to an impression of impunity, especially in police abuse cases.
This was not entirely a new issue but its mention in the US report showed it was concerning.
Providing proper and effective oversight on the police exposes and reduces misconduct, corruption and enhances police practice, policy and accountability.
Truth be told, every Fijian likes to live in an environment where there is happiness, peace and security; where there is no harm, no abuse and no danger. But enjoying these niceties would require our police men and women, as public servants, to carry out their work professionally, honestly and with a deep sense of integrity.
Efficient, independent, well-staffed and well-equipped police departments can go a long way in reducing police crimes, corruption and boosting confidence and trust in the force. At the same time, unprofessionalism and laxity in the force must be met with aggressive, yet civil, opposition and denouncement. It also calls for public deliberation and action from those in positions of authority.
We should not allow civil servants whose salaries we pay to continue heavy-handed policing approach or to intentionally break the law. A lack of police oversight on our part will only encourage impunity, and impunity will further spur the cycle of violence we face in the community. Nobody is above the law, especially so our police men and women, who through their choice of career have taken an oath to uphold it.
The force should be subject to a transparent, meticulous, unbiased investigation and scrutiny and those who are guilty and responsible should be brought to justice through a fair trial.
Also, government has a duty to see that not only must laws adequately address police brutality but the police force itself should be appropriately equipped and resourced to address it when it happened.
One of the areas that need looking into is the provision of practical and sufficient counselling services by competent psychologists to oversee how our police officers deal with the anxiety associated with their work so they can effectively manage its stressful demands.
Police officers are not supermen and women. They are humans and can be influenced and tempted. Combatting crime is not an easy job either. It is tough, risky and exhausting.
Counsellors can be used as an integral component of the force’s planning, recruitment, human resource training, policy formulation and evaluation process, among other areas.
They can screen new recruits, advise officers on policing stress, and counsel on personal, financial and family matters.
The force needs to also look at providing adequate mentoring and supervisory support, to allow senior officers to effectively transfer knowledge and skills, and the finer details of policing etiquette, to those occupying the lower ranks.
Careful consideration should be accorded to officers who are known to have personal problems. The stresses of separation, divorce, dealing with a dead spouse or financial loss can destabilise work and decision-making. These should not be ignored.
And while we guard against the police, we must appreciate the good work done by our law enforcers in maintaining peace and harmony, safety, calm and security in our communities.
Their commitment to crime prevention deserves our support and appreciation, regardless of the problems that rise within their ranks, every now and then.
Until we meet on this same page same time next week, stay blessed, stay healthy and stay safe.
