Police trainers learn limits of power

International Committee of Red Cross delegate Daniel Agob said the two- day training for Police trainers to understand the proper use of legal powers and their limitations. “The legal powers of every Police office is not unlimited; a Police officer is granted powers to serve and protect but he has to follow certain procedures or limitations,” Mr Agob said. A team from the International Red Cross is training 20 police trainers and the Deputy Police Commissioner from Nauru, Kalinda Blake at the Fiji Police Academy in Suva in a session titled “Seminar on International Policing Standards and the Exercise of Police Powers”. Deputy Commissioner of Police ACP Isikeli Ligairi highlighted the importance of the roles and responsibilities of the police for them to know what it meant to wear the uniform as well as know their limits when upholding law and order.

ACP Ligairi also thanked the international committee of the Red Cross for holding the training, which is the first time in for Police trainers to be trained. Fred Grimm, the ICRC head of regional delegation said ICRC aimed to enhance understanding and acceptance of its work and its ways of working. “The ICRC’s trainings with the Fiji Police Force have been taking place for several years and we are glad that this year, we are taking a regional dimension.

“We are also looking forward to continuing dialogue with the Fiji Police Force to further develop this approach.

“Police in the region are clearly facing a range of challenges and a volume of work for which they are not prepared for.

“It is important that awareness is raised on issues that might rise in the future,” Mr Grimm said. Edited by Rusiate Mataika