Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says Fiji has recorded a significant 18 percent drop in overall crime for the first quarter, covering August to October.
Releasing the latest statistics at a press conference today, Tudravu said 4,049 cases were reported during the three-month period, compared with 4,960 cases in the same period last year.
He said the decline was reflected in the Southern, Western, Eastern and Central divisions, with only the Northern Division recording a marginal 3 percent increase.
The Commissioner highlighted that serious crimes decreased by 35 percent, with all five divisions reporting reductions.
Crimes involving vulnerable groups also improved, with crimes against women dropping by 10 percent and crimes against children falling by 34 percent. However, he cautioned that domestic-related offenses—particularly assault, indecent assault and sexual offences—remain a concern.
The Police Force also recorded a 30 percent decrease in illicit drug cases. Since the launch of Operation Sasamaki, officers have registered 334 drug cases, mostly involving unlawful possession.
Tudravu acknowledged the figures may spark debate and said a detailed breakdown will be released for transparency.
Despite the encouraging reductions across major categories, the Commissioner noted one critical setback: a 73 percent increase in road fatalities, despite a target reduction of 30 percent.
