The Fiji Police Force says it is fully resourced to combat crime this festive season, with $30.1million allocated and more than 5100 officers deployed nationwide.
With nationwide operations already underway, Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua said the force has the personnel, funding and technology needed to effectively combat crime across the country during the peak holiday period.
“Yes, the FPF has the resources needed to effectively combat crime across the country during this festive season,” Mr Naivalurua told The Fiji Times.
He said for this festive season alone, the Fiji Police Force had been allocated a budget of $F30.1m to conduct and support operations on the ground.
“This is complemented by the absorption of recruits to the FPF which has bolstered manpower and approximately stands at 5136 personnel; that is approximately one police officer to 187 people.”
Mr Naivalurua said the annual festive season operation period had commenced on December 15 and would conclude on January 15, 2026.
He said ahead of the operation period, all divisional police commanders carried out operational readiness checks to ensure officers were fully equipped with essential gear, including handcuffs, capsicum spray, batons and torches.
Further strengthening the response, Mr Naivalurua said, each police division has a 30-member team on 24-hour standby, ready to be deployed for emergencies in addition to routine station duties.
He says the force has 395 operational vehicles supporting nationwide operations, alongside CCTV cameras installed in red zones and hot spot areas, all linked directly to Police Coordination and Command Centres.
“All police stations nationwide have CCTVs linked to their command centres.”
Mr Naivalurua said police visibility had also been stepped up, with checkpoints set up at strategic locations, supported by motorbike patrols and boat patrols to police Fiji’s shores and assist maritime and coastal communities during the festive season.
