The Fiji Police Force has expressed concern over a notable rise in crimes against children, reporting a 25 percent increase last month. Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci announced that there were 138 incidents involving children, comprising 93 girls and 45 boys.
According to the statistics, 54 percent of these cases were classified as sexual offences, 33 percent were related to assaults, and 13 percent fell under other categories. Additionally, it was noted that 22 percent of the cases had domestic implications, involving relatives such as cousins and parents.
Raikaci highlighted that the uptick in crimes against children can largely be attributed to a rise in assault cases, which increased from 23 to 35 incidents. There was also a significant rise in abductions of persons under 18, up from 5 to 22 cases, alongside an increase in sexual assaults from 7 to 20.
Overall, the crime rate in Fiji saw an increase of eight percent compared to the same period last year, with serious crimes rising by 11 percent, crimes against women by four percent, and crimes against children by 25 percent.
In a bid to ensure accountability, five police officers were charged last month with various offences including sexual offences, assault, drug-related charges, and breaches of the Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO). Raikaci noted that police officers have also been victims of crime while carrying out their duties, citing 25 serious assault cases against law enforcement personnel, along with incidents of obstruction and resisting arrest.
Raikaci emphasized the risks police officers face daily in their roles, stating their dedication to overcoming these challenges for the benefit of the community.
Regarding drug-related issues, the police reported 143 drug cases in August, a significant number involving the unlawful possession of illicit drugs. A total of 135 individuals were charged in connection with these offences, including three students.
Raikaci acknowledged the support from community and religious leaders in addressing crime and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure safer communities. He urged the public to report suspicious activities to help curb illegal activities and protect vulnerable groups by utilizing the Crime Stoppers hotline.