Officers told to Stand Guard Against Domestic Violence
It is important that men and women in the Fiji Police Force are educated and equipped to deal with domestic violence happening at home.
That was the challenge put forward to Police officers at the Namaka Police Station by the Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, during his tour to the West last Friday.
With domestic violence happening within the force, the minister said it was important for the officers to be equipped with how to deal with the matter.
“One consistent thing that comes largely throughout is domestic violence,” he said.
“This is something perhaps beyond the police in many ways. “This is not a problem that you cause. It is caused by many different factors.
“I think Commissioner, it is important
that the men and women in the police force are educated and equipped to deal with this particular matter.”
He told the married police officers to be cautious against violence happening at home because children were the victims.
“Generally, there are lots of married people in this room. I am married too and we know what it is like at home, particularly in the kind of work we do, the people in uniforms. Let alone others, so things are still over to our families at home unfortunately the children are usually the victim of this.
“I know you have a ‘no drop ‘policy on domestic violence which is the start. Perhaps the police may be initiating all these because you inherit the problem at the end.” Mr Tikoduadua said it was important for them to reach out to organisations that were available around Nadi on that matter.