To arm or not to arm?

THE acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew believes police men and women should not be armed. He said this in an interview on The Lens @177, The Fiji Times digital platform.

Arming the police, he insisted, could lay the platform for criminals to one day also acquire guns.

Armed aspects of police work, he said, could be delegated to, or involve the military, moving forward.

Mr Fong Chew admitted arms and ammunition were being found in some residences in Fiji.

In a world that is fast evolving, and where criminals have taken on a more sophisticated outlook, we reflect on the issue of arms.

Understandably the acting commissioner makes a point that is worth noting.

We have always had a force that is unarmed on our streets.

However, the police force has also had arms confined to armouries at Nasova in Suva, and at the Police Mobile Unit in Nasinu over the decades.

These were used sparingly and only in emergencies.

Police officers were trained in the use of arms and a force armourer was based at Nasova.

Naturally questions would be asked about the events that saw the armoury at PMF in Nasinu emptied in 2006.

While police officers were not armed when out on patrol daily, they could fall back on an armed unit in any case of violence or emergency over the years.

In 2016, suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho had suggested that an armed military unit be established to deal with “violent and armed situations”.

That attracted the attention of the opposition at the time in Parliament.

Opposition Leader at the time, Ro Teimumu Kepa warned if police were armed, they could use it, and people may die because of “poor misunderstandings, abuse, or some other reason”.

“People may die. Fiji has managed to survive this long without it and I commend our Police officers for their courage and approach toward crime, and we must continue to have our law enforcement operate without resorting to the use of arms,” Ro Teimumu said.

As we grapple with an evolving landscape that is now heavily tainted by illegal drugs, there would no doubt be questions hovering around fire-arms.

Mr Fong Chew may have a point in terms of the possibility of an arms race between criminals and the force.

Yet the delegation of armed response to the military may also carry its fair share of questions, and concerns, especially on the lines between law enforcement and national defence.

For now though, emphasis, obviously, would have to be focused on ensuring we have a police force that is well equipped, well trained and trusted by the people, to maintain safety and security in Fiji!

■ FRED WESLEY