EXISTING police laws do not allow for community policing although it is being effectively applied in communities and villages across Fiji.
Ministry of Policing official Biu Matavou said the Police Act of 1965 does not support community policing.
“It’s not allowed in the law, but we’ve already seen work being done in villages,” he said.
Mr Matavou described the Act as outdated and unsuitable for policing needs.
“The 1965 Police Act does not meet the current needs for the police to do their work, and this has restrained police officers from carrying out their duties properly,” he added.
As part of efforts to modernise the law, Mr Matavou said police were holding public consultations in several parts of the country.
He said issues raised included the need for more transparency in police investigations and the establishment of an independent tribunal to handle complaints against police officers.
Questions have also been raised about police powers regarding mobile phones during investigations.
Mr Matavou said police officers cannot seize a phone without a warrant.
“There’s a proposal for the police to have this power, but it must be done through the proper legal processes,” he said.
The consultations and resulting proposals will form part of a wider push to update national policing laws and align them with current challenges and community expectations.
