Policy changes at the Fiji Police Force are important when it comes to the dissemination of information to the public.
After a workshop that involved the media and senior officers last week, there was renewed enthusiasm about nurturing the relationship between the media and the force.
Policy changes will now ensure divisional commanders and directors are able to speak on areas which they are knowledgeable in. That’s according to Assistant Commissioner of Police administration Meli Sateki.
He said this was a result of the organisation’s aim to strengthen its response to the media. During the joint awareness workshop last week, ACP Saketa said the media did not hide anything.
“They were really telling us what we needed to know and they were not diplomatic,” ACP Saketa said.
“They were telling us what we need to improve upon and that’s something that we welcome. That’s something we are looking forward to hearing, especially when we are now trying to strengthen the organisation in terms of refocusing on the core functions of serving our people better.”
While barriers between the media and the police would have been torn down over the past few days, ACP Saketa wasn’t expecting the media and the police to be friends.
“But I’m expecting that we both do what we are accountable to do.”
The force, he said, would ensure guidelines were in place so there was no overlap in terms of media releases at divisional and strategic levels.
“It will be a controlled environment where divisional commanders and our directors will surely have to know that there are guidelines and areas that they can speak on whilst they allow headquarters to continue to address strategic issues.”
He said members of the public would be able to recognise who served in which role, and be able to put a face to the name.
This, he said, would help to build credibility and transparency. We are encouraged by this move by the force to embrace the role of the media.
In fact we can each play an important role in disseminating information to the masses.
We say there has to be accountability and it is encouraging that after years of negative reports against it, the force is trying to understand why people need to be aware of its functions and assist in the war against crime. It is the way to go.
The three-day workshop last week would have empowered senior officers to appreciate the role of the media, and how they can factor that in their work, and engage better with journalists and the masses.
We all have a role to play in the mechanics of how our country moves forward positively.
