Prospective members of the Fiji Police Force will be required to provide DNA samples, undergo psychological evaluations, and submit personal biometric information before being considered for recruitment, states a working draft Bill for the new Police Act.
The proposed changes, outlined in a working document obtained by The Fiji Times, give the Police Commissioner wide-ranging powers to request extensive personal data from applicants seeking to become Police staff or associates.
Under Clause 20 of the draft document, applicants may be asked to provide identification and biographic details, submit evidence of qualifications and experience, undergo physical and mental fitness testing, submit to psychological evaluations, provide biometric data or a body sample for DNA profiling and provide medical reports relevant to their duties
Clause 21 of the draft Bill specifically empowers the Commissioner to require a body sample “suitable for obtaining a DNA profile” and to collect other biometric data the Commissioner thinks appropriate.”
The use of this sensitive information, however, is limited. Clause 22 of the draft Bill states that biometric data may only be used to verify that the applicant is not a user of illicit drugs, match against Police records to determine prior convictions or possible links to criminal activity and eliminate individuals from criminal investigations if they are later hired.
The draft also outlines protections for applicants’ data. Clause 23 requires that “all body samples be destroyed” once a DNA profile has been derived and stored, except in cases where a match suggests involvement in an offence.
Clause 24 of the draft law further mandates that biometric information must be permanently deleted or destroyed if the person is not recruited.