The Fiji Police Force has expressed concern over a notable rise in crimes against children. Last month, the force reported a 25 percent increase, with 138 cases logged, comprising 93 girls and 45 boys.
According to Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci, a majority of these cases, about 54 percent, were classified as sexual offences. The remaining categories included 33 percent related to assaults and 13 percent pertaining to other types of offences. Additionally, 22 percent of the incidents were domestic in nature, involving relatives such as cousins and parents.
Raikaci highlighted that the escalation in crimes against children was primarily due to an uptick in assault cases, which rose from 23 to 35, as well as a significant increase in abductions of individuals under 18 (from 5 to 22 cases) and sexual assaults (from 7 to 20).
Moreover, last month’s overall crime rate saw an eight percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Serious crimes increased by 11 percent, crimes against women rose by four percent, and crimes against children surged by 25 percent.
In a separate development, five police officers were charged last month with various offenses, including sexual offences, assault, drug-related crimes, and violations of Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVRO). Nonetheless, officers also faced challenges, with 25 serious assault cases where police personnel were victims, along with incidents involving obstruction and resisting arrest.
Raikaci acknowledged the risks that police officers encounter daily as part of their duties and reaffirmed the commitment to effectively serve and protect the community.
In terms of drug-related issues, the police logged 143 drug cases in August compared to the same month last year. Of these, 138 were related to the illegal possession of drugs, while five cases involved unlawful cultivation. A total of 135 individuals were charged with drug offences, including three students.
Raikaci expressed gratitude for the support from religious and community leaders towards crime prevention efforts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to foster safer communities. He encouraged residents to report suspicious activities through Crime Stoppers for the protection of women, children, and vulnerable populations.