48 people taken in for ‘breaking curfew’
Qiliho: Reasons for big number of arrests is ‘no-care’ attitude
Police have taken in 48 people found to be roaming during curfew hours. Police Commissioner BrigadierGeneral Sitiveni Qiliho expressed his concern after the third night of the enforcement of the nationwide curfew, which takes place between 10pm and 5am.
“We have found that the main reason behind the high number of arrests, is due to sheer laxity and a no-care attitude,” he said.
In Suva, two drunk men were arrested by the Police.
Police also took two university students into custody in Flagstaff after they were found roaming around looking to buy biscuits.
Altogether, the Western Division recorded 18 people taken into custody, with 16 in the Southern Division, six in the Eastern Division, five in the Central Division and three arrests in the Northern Division.
“Many who were arrested were either returning from a social gathering or a kava session at a friend’s or relative’s place, while the rest could not give any reason as to why they had lost track of the time and were caught out during the curfew hours,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.
Police have not only erected static checkpoints throughout the country, but increased patrols as well.
Brigadier-General Qiliho also said reports came in of people not adhering to the curfew and were moving around in areas outside of where the roadblocks had been erected.
“As a warning to all those still deliberately breaching the curfew hours, we will get you, as our mobile patrols have been beefed up,” he said.
“We continue to urge members of the public to contact the National Police Command and Control Center on 9905-296 or their nearest Divisional Police Command Centers and report those that are breaching the curfew hours, as we need to work together to fight COVID-19. “Every bit of information counts and we appreciate all the assistance that has been rendered to officers on COVID-19 and routine operations,” he said.