Concerns regarding crimes against children are rising within the Fiji Police Force, following an eight percent increase in reported cases last month. Acting Commissioner of Police, ACP Sakeo Raikaci, noted that the overall crime rate heightened by 28 percent in September compared to the same timeframe last year.
In total, 117 cases of crimes against children were recorded, with 90 of those victims being girls and 27 boys. Of the reported cases, 66 percent were categorized as sexual offences, 29 percent as assault-related, and 5 percent linked to other types of offences.
ACP Raikaci highlighted that the Western and Central divisions saw decreases in reported cases, with reductions of 47 percent and 29 percent, respectively. However, other divisions reported increases in crime rates.
Additionally, he mentioned that 15 percent of these crimes were domestic-related, involving relationships such as parent-child and uncle-niece/nephew interactions. The rise in crimes against children is largely attributed to an increase in assault-causing actual bodily harm cases, which rose from 18 to 26 incidents.