Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho has discouraged Police escort for funeral processions.

“I plead to the members of the community to deal with issues of more importance in the criminal landscape than trying to divert our resources to funerals,” Brigadier-General Qiliho said.

He made the statement during the release of the crime figures at Police headquarters, Laucala Beach on Wednesday.

“Providing escort for funerals is not a priority for the force, we do not have the resources to provide this service,” he said.

“In most occasions, we have committed our mobility assets to funerals while criminal activities take place in other areas.

“It takes time for officers to respond to these criminal activities as officers are attending to funerals providing escort. We can understand our sincere condolences go out to people who lose their loved ones but it’s not a protocol for police to provide escort.

“You can put on your headlights. You can put your hazard lights.”

He urged the public to plan movements for deceased ones during off-peak hours.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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