Police officers should undergo comprehensive ethics training to help combat corruption within the force.
Speaking on concerns about corruption in the Fiji Police Force and whether police officers should receive higher pay, Ministry of Policing permanent Secretary Berenado Daveta said ethics training and stronger recruitment processes were key measures in addressing the issue.
“If the police are going to be having a pay increase, that would be great for the police,” he said.
“But I think issues of corruption would be more on ethical training on that side of things, to do more training on ethics.”
Mr Daveta said background checks during recruitment were important to ensure those entering the force were suitable candidates.
Mr Daveta said officers found to be involved in corruption would face disciplinary and legal action.
“No police officer should be corrupt. And if they are found corrupt, they will be taken through due process and be charged and interdicted.”
Mr Daveta also said ethics training should form part of all police training programs rather than being treated as a standalone session.
“It should be something that is threaded into all courses.”
