The Fiji Police Force has issued a warning regarding a notable increase in crimes targeting children. Last month saw a 25 percent rise in such incidents, totaling 138 cases, with 93 involving girls and 45 involving boys.
Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci highlighted that sexual offences made up 54 percent of these cases, while 33 percent were related to assaults and 13 percent involved other types of offences. Additionally, 22 percent of the incidents were domestic-related, affecting relatives such as cousins and parents.
Mr. Raikaci attributed the rise in crimes against children to a notable uptick in specific categories: assault cases increased from 23 to 35, abductions of minors rose from 5 to 22, and sexual assaults grew from 7 to 20. He noted that the overall crime rate had risen by eight percent when compared to the same timeframe last year, with serious crimes up by 11 percent and crimes against women increasing by four percent.
In a bid to ensure accountability within the force, Mr. Raikaci reported that five police officers faced charges last month for various offences, including sexual crimes, assault, drug violations, and breaches of Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. However, he also acknowledged that police officers themselves can fall victim to crime while fulfilling their duties, citing 25 cases of serious assault against officers, along with instances of obstruction and resisting arrest.
On the drug-related front, Mr. Raikaci stated that there were 143 drug cases reported in August, which included 138 related to the unlawful possession of illicit drugs and five concerning their cultivation. A total of 135 individuals were charged with drug offences, including three students.
Mr. Raikaci expressed gratitude for the support from religious and community leaders in efforts to combat crime. He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in these collaborative efforts to create safer communities, urging the public to report suspicious activities through Crime Stoppers.