‘Step up domestic violence operations’

DOMESTIC violence is an issue the Fiji Police Force will need to step up its operations against, says Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua.

While addressing officers at the Namaka Police Station on Friday, he urged them to educate themselves to better address the issue.

“This is something that perhaps is beyond the police in many ways,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it always ends up with you and this is not a problem that you cause.

“It is caused by many other different factors, but I think that it is also important that the men and women of the Fiji Police Force are educated in particular and equipped to deal with these particular matters.

“There are a lot of married people in this room and we know what it is like at home, particularly with the kind of work that we do - the people in uniform.

“So these things happen and unfortunately the children are usually the victims in these situations.

“I know you have a no drop policy on violence, which is a start.

“But perhaps you may be the initiator of addressing this because you inherit the problem at the end.

“Maybe not only just through your community policing work, but reaching out to organisations that are available around here in Nadi that can help as much as they can in this matter.”

He added that other issues such as theft and burglary would continue to be a problem.

“These are things that I am hearing along the way.

“These are definitely not new issues and some of them are legacy issues and some of them will remain, but it essentially demands a lot from us that are enforcers of the law.”