Concerns about crimes against children are growing within the Fiji Police Force, as an eight percent rise in reported cases was noted last month.
Acting Commissioner of Police, ACP Sakeo Raikaci, reported that the overall crime rate surged by 28 percent in September compared to the same month last year.
In total, 117 cases of crimes against children were documented, with 90 of the victims being girls and 27 boys. According to ACP Raikaci, 66 percent of these cases were sexual offences, 29 percent were related to assaults, and five percent fell under other categories.
While the Western and Central divisions experienced decreases of 47 percent and 29 percent, respectively, the remaining divisions saw increases in reported cases. ACP Raikaci indicated that 15 percent of the crimes were domestically related, involving incidents between parents and children, as well as between uncles and nieces or nephews and other relatives.
The rise in crimes against children is largely attributed to a spike in assault-causing actual bodily harm cases, which increased from 18 to 26.