Four police officers have recently been charged with serious offenses, including assault causing actual bodily harm, rape, and accepting bribes. This troubling development has emerged against the backdrop of the Overall Crime Rate report for October from the Fiji Police Force.
During this reporting period, police noted 22 incidents of serious assaults on officers. However, a significant portion of cases involved drug-related offenses. Specifically, there were 160 cases associated with marijuana, 20 related to methamphetamine, and one involving cocaine.
The report highlights a concerning surge in crimes against children, which rose by 39%. Of these, 64% were sexual offenses, with the rest classified as assault-related or other types. Alarmingly, all the perpetrators in these cases were male family members, underscoring the urgent need for intervention. The victims included 90 girls and 78 boys.
Crimes against women also experienced a slight increase of 0.5%, mostly involving assault and sexual offenses, with 36% of these being domestic in nature. Serious crimes overall increased by 17%, with sexual offenses rising by 32%, and domestic violence against women and children soaring by 42%.
On a slightly more positive note, instances of robbery and aggravated robbery have seen a decline during this period. The rising drug-related cases largely reflect intensified efforts by law enforcement to combat illegal drug activities, particularly in the Southern, Western, and Central Divisions.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew, emphasized that many of the increases in crimes against women and children are occurring within domestic environments. He affirmed that the Fiji Police Force will continue to engage with various stakeholders to tackle the root causes of these issues. Chew also remarked that the heightened number of drug cases indicates progress in their ongoing fight against drug-related crime.
In light of these statistics, there is hope that continued collaboration among community members and law enforcement can help create safer environments for families, which is vital for the nation’s future. The proactive approach indicated by the Commissioner suggests a commitment to fostering safer communities, emphasizing that collective efforts are essential in this journey.
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