Divisional Police Commander North Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka has warned officers to ensure full compliance of processes are followed when women lodge complaints of domestic abuse.
His warning comes after officers at the Labasa Police Station failed to take down a statement of a woman who reported she was allegedly abused by her husband.
SSP Kemueli said due processes should have been followed with the lodging of an official report.
“Complaints and in particular cases of domestic disputes or violence reported, their statements should be taken down,” he said.
The victim said officers went to her place to take her statement on Tuesday after it was reported in The Fiji Times.
“It took me to report it to the newspaper for the police officers at the Labasa Police Station to take my statements,” she said.
“Service at the Labasa Police Station is very poor.”
She said there was a need for officers at the station to prioritise and respect women as it takes a lot of courage for women to report domestic violence.
