Fiji Police Force graduation marks largest intake as Nasova training completes 127 recruits
One hundred and twenty-seven young men and women completed their training to become full-fledged members of the Fiji Police Force, according to a report in The Fiji Times on June 4, 1976. The new constables passed out after a 20-week basic training program at the police school at Nasova, Nasese in Suva, a period during which they reportedly grew from unsure newcomers into a disciplined, capable corps ready to face a wide range of duties.
The recruits benefited from a comprehensive program that included lectures from senior police officers, the public relations and crime and accident prevention departments, and the support of outside organisations. Notable contributors included Harry Charman of the Charman’s All Races Club, who taught self-defence; the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, which ran a first aid course; and the Suva Fire Brigade, the pathological section of the CWM Hospital, the Lands and Survey Department, the Social Welfare Department, and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, among others.
This intake was the largest ever at the school, and among the 127 new constables, 14 were women and two came from the Tuvalu Constabulary, highlighting both gender inclusion and regional cooperation within the force. Commandant Superintendent Ambika Prasad attributed the robust intake to a higher standard of applicants, explaining that the volume of people applying allowed for more selective recruitment.
Education levels among the recruits were solid: all had at least Form 4 education, with many passing Fiji Junior; 35 had passed subjects from the New Zealand School Certificate examination, and one had passed the GCE examination. SP Prasad noted there was also a push to shorten the training period from 24 weeks to 20 weeks by accepting applicants with a Fiji Junior pass, arguing that higher academic standards contributed to better understanding of classroom material and field instructions.
Although the total number of new recruits was 127, the appeal of policing as a career was evident, with about 1,300 youths nationwide applying for the August intake. SP Prasad himself interviewed 1,298 applicants for that intake, more than the force’s entire strength at the time, underscoring the public interest in joining the police.
The trainees lived in separate barracks by gender, with the girls in one block and the boys in another, and those from Suva also based in Nasova. The training program was divided into three parts: an initial phase focused on general studies and basic law, a second phase covering law and its practical application to daily policing work, and a final phase in which recruits engaged in practical duties at police stations and on patrols. Weekly tests culminated in both practical and written final exams.
Female recruits received identical training to their male counterparts, with the exception of weapons instruction; males learned rifle handling, while females trained with pistols. A typical day began at 5:30 a.m. and ran until 8 p.m., with parade and drill at 6:15 a.m., a morning session of drill before breakfast, classroom time from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a mixture of afternoon activities, which often included outdoor duties, self-defence, life-saving instructions, physical training, confidence-building exercises, road running and gym games. Evenings included dinner and a final hour of study or an educational film.
The commandant, himself an alumnus of the school, recalled that the passing-out parade was an emotional moment, with many recruits crying as they said farewell to one another. His words captured the spirit of the day: when they arrive, they may be lonely, but when they leave, they form “one family.”
This historic graduation reflects a longstanding emphasis on professional development within the Fiji Police Force and the importance placed on high standards, rigorous training, and teamwork. In the years since, the force has continued to evolve with broader reforms and ongoing efforts to maintain staffing and capability in a changing security landscape, including initiatives designed to bolster manpower and strengthen internal career paths for officers.
Overall, the 1976 intake signaled a strong commitment to building a capable, diverse, and cohesive policing service poised to serve Fiji’s communities with discipline and professionalism.
Summary: A 20-week training program at Nasova produced 127 new Fiji Police constables in 1976, the largest intake in the school’s history, including 14 women and two from the Tuvalu Constabulary. The program featured extensive external training partners, a structured three-stage curriculum, and a demanding daily schedule, with an emphasis on academic readiness and practical policing skills. The emotional passing-out ceremony highlighted the sense of unity among recruits as they moved into their duties.
Leave a comment