The proposed Police Bill 2026 would establish an independent Fiji Police Force Disciplinary Tribunal to hear appeals against disciplinary decisions made by the Commissioner of Police.
Under Clause 130 of the Bill, the tribunal would consist of three members appointed by the Chief Justice after consultation with the Minister responsible for Police.
The chairperson must be a person who is, or is qualified to be, a judge. The tribunal would also include one member with policing experience who is not a serving police officer at the time of appointment and one civilian representative.
Members would serve three-year terms and could be reappointed.
The proposed legislation states that the tribunal’s primary role would be to hear and determine appeals against disciplinary decisions made by the Commissioner.
“The Tribunal has the function of hearing and determining appeals against decisions of the Commissioner,” the Bill states.
Importantly, decisions made by the tribunal could be further appealed to the High Court.
The Bill emphasises the tribunal’s independence.
“The Tribunal must be independent and is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, except by a court of law or as otherwise required by written law,” the legislation states.
The Chief Justice would also have the authority to appoint acting members where vacancies arise or members are unable to perform their duties.
Members could only be removed for inability to perform their functions or for misconduct.
The tribunal would be empowered to regulate its own procedures and make rules necessary to carry out its functions.
In addition to handling appeals, the tribunal would be required to provide regular updates and advice to the Minister on matters relating to its responsibilities.
Funding for the tribunal would come from the Consolidated Fund, with Parliament required to ensure adequate resources are available for it to operate independently and effectively.
The proposed body forms part of broader reforms contained in the Police Bill 2026 tabled in Parliament this week.
If enacted, the tribunal would create a new independent avenue for police officers to challenge disciplinary decisions while adding an additional layer of oversight to internal police disciplinary processes.
