THE current review of the Fiji Police Act will look at legally recognising the role of police animals in law enforcement, a component entirely absent from the current legislation.
This is stated in a discussion paper released by the Fiji Law Reform Commission.
“The current Police Act does not recognise or provide for the role of police animals, despite their growing importance in law enforcement,” the paper states.
“Cooperation to strengthen their role has been in place since the 1970s.”
The paper notes that police dogs have become vital in identifying illicit substances and supporting investigations.”
Calling for the new Act to formally incorporate the role of police animals, the paper points to legislation in New Zealand and Australia as useful models.
“In New Zealand, under the Policing Act 2008, section 46 explicitly addresses police dogs,” the paper explains. A police dog under the control of a handler may lawfully enter any place that the handler may enter in the line of duty,” and that neither the commissioner nor the handler is liable for the dog’s presence.
The paper notes that in New Zealand, it is an offence for those who intentionally kill, maim, wound, or otherwise injure a police dog that carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of $15,000, or both.
These provisions, the paper says, “ensure legal protection for the operational deployment of canine teams”. The paper argues that these legal models provide valuable guidance and should be considered in Fiji’s legislative reforms.
“This robust framework, including the post-commencement monitoring period, is worth considering when crafting a framework for inclusion of police animals in the new Act.”