Over 2982 arrests recorded for COVID-19 restriction breaches, social gathering tops list

Since the implementation of the COVID-19 restrictions on March 19, the Fiji Police Force has recorded 2982 arrests for COVID-19 restriction breaches as of yesterday.

Out of the 2982, social gathering arrests topped the list with 1586, 1355 for curfew restrictions while 37 for other related offences in the Western, Southern, Eastern, Northern and Central divisions. Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said while the number of COVID-19 related arrests increased, crime rates had seen a notable decrease in the last few months.

“During this pandemic, all our policing issue continued, and while the focus of the media had been solely on COVID-19 related offences, we were on to visiting all the criminal hotspots dealing with other issues at hand and we will continue to do that,” Brigadiergeneral Qiliho said.

“Crime rates have fallen, but if there is one thing increasing, it’s the increase because of the number of arrests in regards to breaches of directives and curfew breaches that has happened

“For serious crimes against women and children that has decreased.”

Drug raids

Brigadier-General Qiliho said drug issues were an ongoing fight for Police.

While they cannot eradicate it, he said the force would work within its powers to manage it.

“We have been collating a lot of information overtime and we have recently introduced drones and body cams for those that are taking part in those raids and activities,” he said.

“We have seen over time that the first thing that people that are raided do is go and lodge a report or go to the media that we were heavy handed in the way that we raided their properties.

“I had just returned from Vanua Levu last evening and I have seen how they have applied the drone effectively during these operations. It’s the first time we are utilising the drone that we have acquired and we will get a few more soon that we will be put out in the various divisions and also those body cams.

While Kadavu was thought to be the main supplier of marijuana, he said operations have noted that drugs were also cultivated in Tailevu and Vanua Levul.