The Fiji Times

Proudly flying the Fiji flag

Women’s impact in the Fiji Police Force

- By JUKI FONG CHEW Acting Commission­er of Police

THE Fiji Police Force wishes all women and women officers a Happy Internatio­nal Women’s Day. Since the first batch of women joined the Fiji Police Fore in the 1970s, women officers have continued to set bench marks that are an inspiratio­n to past and current serving members, and young girls and women aspiring for a career in law enforcemen­t.

Women officers have flown the Fiji and Fiji Police Force flag proudly at the national, regional and internatio­nal levels, holding senior positions and creating history for the organisati­on.

At present there are five women officers holding senior director roles, namely the director Criminal Investigat­ions Department – Senior Superinten­dent of Police (SSP) Loraini Seru, director forensic sciences services – SSP Margaret Marshall, director training and education – SSP Aseri Nakibo, director community policing – SSP Salanieta Radaniva, Force accountant Manaini Mills, leading men and women under their command in their respective units.

We pay tribute to all women officers past and present for their contributi­on to policing.

It is often said that when you make policing better for women, you make policing better, and that is true in the sense of policing in Fiji. Throughout the five policing divisions, women are dutifully carrying out their policing roles with distinctio­n.

Their commitment to policing is awe inspiring noting their ability to combine a career and the added responsibi­lity of their families. The recent recruitmen­t also saw one of the largest intake of women recruits.

A total of 105 women are currently undergoing the Batch 67 recruits training and we wish them well. This year also marks an important chapter in the Fiji Police Force’s achievemen­t of continuous contributi­on of 35 years of UN Peacekeepi­ng, and the month of March is declared by the United Nations as Women’s History Month and March 8, 2024 as Internatio­nal Women’s Day.

Fijian Women Police officers have also served in various capacities as IPO’s, trainers, technical advisers, regional commanders, teams leaders, deputy Police Commission­ers, Police Commission­ers and many more.

Fijian police women officers have served with pride and honour in United Nations Missions despite the domination of male contingent members. Three women officers deployed in 1992 to Cambodia make up the total of 1612 police officers sent for peacekeepi­ng missions with 136 being women officers.

To date 100 women officers have served in various United Nations peacekeepi­ng missions and 36 in other regional peacekeepi­ng missions.

This represents only 8.4 per cent in the overall deployment­s to missions, however the achievemen­ts by women officers exceeded the expectatio­ns for small number who had served.

Though the United Nations requiremen­t is of 25 per cent deployment of females to UN missions, Fiji police has surpassed it and has deployed 38.5 per cent as of now in UN Missions.

We salute all women officers for their unwavering dedication to their oath of service, and the adage, a male dominated organisati­on, we can safely say no longer applies to the Fiji Police Force.

While we celebrate the achievemen­ts of our women, let us work together to create safe communitie­s for young girls and women.

The Force through the support of our fellow law enforcemen­t partners, share the commitment of creating an environmen­t in which women and young girls can feel safe and secure.

 ?? Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. ?? Women officers assisting families evacuate in the Northern Division.
Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. Women officers assisting families evacuate in the Northern Division.
 ?? Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. ?? Senior women officers pay their last respects during the funeral of a fallen comrade.
Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. Senior women officers pay their last respects during the funeral of a fallen comrade.
 ?? Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE ?? Inspector Biu Tagilala one of the four women officers who have taken up the critical role of Staff Officer for the Assistant Commission­er of Police - Internal Affairs and Profession­al Standards
Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE Inspector Biu Tagilala one of the four women officers who have taken up the critical role of Staff Officer for the Assistant Commission­er of Police - Internal Affairs and Profession­al Standards
 ?? Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. ?? Assistant Superinten­dent of Police Rusila Cakacaka first Police Officer from Fiji to be deployed to United Nations Interim Security Forces in Abyei (UNISFA).
Picture: FIJI POLICE FORCE. Assistant Superinten­dent of Police Rusila Cakacaka first Police Officer from Fiji to be deployed to United Nations Interim Security Forces in Abyei (UNISFA).
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