Complaints against police an ‘issue’
HOME Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua says complaints against police officers are received every day and it is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed.
While addressing officers during a recent tour of police stations in the Western Division, he said the complaints highlighted the expectations of the public on the Government and Fiji Police Force.
“There is a never ending list of complaints that we get every day and these are the ones that we know and there are ones that we don’t know,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
“Some goes to the police, others come to me and there are some that go directly to the Prime Minister’s Office and to the Government and to everybody else.
“And this concerns us.”
Mr Tikoduadua said there were times that police officers overstepped their boundaries in the process of carrying out their duty.
“This is something that you must always be mindful and conscious of because part of reporting to the law in your work is you can only uphold the law by following the law.
“So you cannot act outside of the law and you have to be smart.
“That calls a lot upon the leaders — not only in the stations and the police posts — but those that hold ranks to continue to impress upon those that are serving within your ranks the limits of how you can exercise your duties as policemen and women.”
He urged officers to work together and not put themselves in vulnerable situations.
“You must also realise that you are not alone. There are those that work with you.
“You must always remember when a policeman becomes violent that is when he or she becomes the most vulnerable.
“That is when the people see you.
“So when a case is presented to you in such a way that you know you must exert a level of force and if you are doing it by yourself means that you could get into trouble, you must always call for back up.
“Your work is important but be mindful that the law is also important.”