There was notable rise in criminal activities against persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is according to a new study released by Auckland University of Technology. Titled Relationship between the coronavirus pandemic and criminal activities: Emerging evidence from Fiji Islands was carried out by Kunal Singh of the British High Commission in Suva, Tayyab Shah of University of Saskatchewan in Canada and Amrit Raj of the University of the South Pacific.
The crimes against persons included common assault, serious assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal intimidation.
The study found these crimes considerably increased during the curfew period.
“This is not unexpected, given that suitable targets and motivated offenders converge in similar time and space, leading to increases in the chances of assaults,” states the report.
It attributed this to offenders taking advantage of the climate of panic, anxiety and fear, created largely due to job losses, financial and health insecurities.
“The pattern of occurrence in this crime reflect frustrations, insecurities and anxiety among people, due to alterations in their lives due to the pandemic.
“This study shows a shift in crime patterns in the country, where offences relating to confrontations are becoming increasingly common.”
