WINNING TRUST OF PUBLIC IMPORTANT: SERUIRATU

With community policing; community support will only be forthcoming if the community trusts the Police.

If you mistreat and lose the trust of those you serve – do not expect a lot in return because people will only support you if they trust you.

Minister for Defence Inia Seruiratu made the comment during the Fiji Police Force National Community Policing Symposium at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour yesterday.

In his keynote address, Mr Seruiratu highlighted that winning public approval will require a lot of work from the Police.

“If you are to successfully enlist the support of every community member to share the responsibility of preventing crime – you’ll have to get the basics of service delivery strengthened, and the key to that is respect and humility,” he said.

“While you cannot demand members of the public to get involved in crime prevention initiatives, you can however win their support through simple acts of kindness, respect, empathy and humility.

“Fijians have and continue to show that they are willing to help, if it’s for a worthy cause. But only if approached in the right manner.”

Mr Seruiratu said it was important to get the small things right and every Police officer needed to be reminded that they were no different to those they served.

He said with community policing; community support will only be forthcoming if the community trusts the Police.

“Community policing is a give and take situation. But in order to convince people to give up their personal time and resources for work which they are not paid to do,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“But you will need to first and foremost look within before venturing out.

“Because when you find that the gap between the organisation and the public continues to widen – it’s time you took a step back and re-evaluate where you’re going wrong and I believe this symposium will help you do that.”

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