Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has warned officers not to let social media chatter dictate investigations, telling newly graduated detectives that the landscape of policing has shifted and constant learning is essential. Speaking at the graduation of the Criminal Investigation Department Proof of Concept Course, Tudravu urged investigators to remain focused on proper procedure and to resist distraction from public commentary online.
“Social media seems to be dictating the work of Police Officers,” he said, but added that officers must not be distracted by it. Tudravu challenged new investigators to be frank with their superiors about the direction of their inquiries, promising institutional backing: “I hope that new investigators coming in will be bold enough to advise their superiors. I will stand by you in terms of your investigation, so you need to be truthful and transparent in your work.”
The five-week course, co-facilitated by Fiji Police and New Zealand Police, was designed to strengthen practical investigative skills across several areas, including case management, crime-scene and suspect management, and investigative interviewing. Organisers said the curriculum was a response to evolving crime patterns and the need for modernised, evidence-based investigative techniques that can withstand scrutiny both in court and online.
New Zealand Police support for the course forms part of the Fiji Police Partnership Program, a New Zealand government-funded initiative formalised under the Duavata Partnership Agreement. One of the partnership’s key thematic priorities is improving investigative interviewing capabilities — a discipline regarded as central to securing reliable evidence and preventing prejudicial information from seeping into active cases via social media.
Tudravu framed the training as part of a broader effort to adapt policing methods to new challenges. He told graduates the force must continually review and change its approaches as the criminal landscape evolves, signalling that the course is one step in ongoing capacity-building rather than a one-off exercise. The co-facilitation by New Zealand Police also reflects deepening bilateral cooperation on law enforcement practices and professional development.
The commissioner’s remarks come amid growing concern from other officials about the impact of social media on justice. In September, Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga publicly warned that online commentary on ongoing cases could undermine the integrity of the judicial process, echoing the need for investigators and the public to allow legal processes to proceed without undue interference.
By combining targeted training with international support, the Fiji Police aim to bolster the investigative standards that underpin successful prosecutions and to shield enquiries from premature public influence. The graduation of the Proof of Concept Course is the latest development in a programme of collaboration intended to enhance investigative rigour and to ensure that frontline officers are equipped to manage cases transparently and professionally in an era of rapid information flows.
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