36% Arrest Increase Between Mar 19 and Apr 14 from Restriction Breaches
The overall crime rate for the reporting period from March 19 to April 14, since the confirmation of Fiji’s first COVID-19 case, has recorded a 36 per cent arrest increase.
This is largely because of the high number of arrests made for COVID-19 restriction breaches.
During this period 650 cases of reports of failure to comply with lawful orders were registered.
Here’s the breakdown:
■ 465 cases were for breach,
■ 138 were breach,
■ 32 for lockdown breach and
■ 15 cases were for isolation and quarantine breach.
The West recorded 255 cases, South 223 cases, East with 125 cases, North with 24 cases and Cenfor curfew social gathering tral with 23 cases.
Of the 138 cases of social gathering breach, gathering for the purpose of consuming liquor recorded the highest with 60 cases followed by yaqona drinking recording 43 cases, general gathering 28 cases, sporting activities recorded 5, gathering for religious purpose 1 and gathering for wedding purpose 1 case.
Of the 650 cases 1437 accused persons were charged.
The increase in the number of failure to comply with orders cases during this reporting period had a significant impact on the overall increase in crim.
Comparison
Without the failure to comply with lawful order cases there would have been a 13 per cent decrease in the overall crime statistics, and based on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of reducing overall Crime Rate by 10 per cent the decrease of 13 per cent would have meant achieving the target.
The other increase in reported crimes was recorded for the number of illicit drugs cases which registered a 42 per cent increase with 91 cases reported compared to 64 for the same period last year.
Reduction in crime
In other KPI’s, a reduction in serious crime of 17 per cent was recorded, crimes against women recorded a 14 per cent reduction, while Crimes against children recorded a 44 per cent reduction. Domestic violence recorded a decrease of 12 per cent for the reporting period from when the first lockdown came into force in Lautoka
from the March 19 to April 14.
It is interesting to note that when after the nationwide curfew came into force a slight increase was recorded within domestic settings.
Further analysis of the reduction of domestic violence cases against women revealed that 96 per cent were assault related offences and 4 per cent were sexual offences. Domestic violence cases against children recorded a nine per cent decrease where by 10 cases were reported compared to 11 for the same period last year.
40 per cent of the reported cases were sexual assault while 60 per cent were physical assault.
All perpetrators in this case were males and the offences took place in a domestic setting.
Fiji’s agricultural sector has taken a beating worth over $27 million from Tropical Cyclone Harold which battered mostly through the Eastern side of Fiji two weeks ago.
The Category 4 storm system also raked up $22 million in damages to roads and jetties.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said assessments had been made.
“As lines of communication have been re-established, our aid ships have made their way to our outer islands, and our response teams have surveyed damage, the scale of the devastation is becoming clear,” he said.
“Our agricultural sector saw over $27 million of damages from the immense levels of rain and flooding throughout Fiji.
“More than 500 homes were destroyed, with many hundreds more suffering damage. Fiji Road Authority’s infrastructure network, including our roading and jetties, took a $22 million hit.
“Overall, more than 180,000 Fijians saw their homes, their lives and livelihoods suffer from the brunt of Harold.”
Mr Bainimarama said help was on the way for affected Fijians.
He said for many, help had already arrived, with food rations being delivered and clean-up commenced in some of the hardest-hit areas.
As for electricity restoration, Energy Fiji Limited estimates that all grids would be running at 100 percent by the end of the week.