The Fiji Police Force is growing increasingly concerned with the involvement of students in criminal activities.

This was highlighted by the Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, on Friday.

He said peer pressure in today’s society was a real issue.

“Not only has it led to students committing serious crimes but it has led to other social problems,” he said.

According to Police statistics, for the first six months of 2017, 341 reports received throughout the four divisions were committed by those under 18 years.

“We have students aged between 12 to 18 years committing serious offences such as rape, assault and theft. This was unheard of a few years back, but now is becoming a reality,” he said.

“Unfortunately for those students, their educational life has been cut short because of a split second decision to commit an act that they knew was against the law.

“The Fijian Government continues to meet the needs and challenges parents have in sending their children to school. They want every child to have access to education so you can grow up, get a job, and live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

“Students need to be patient and use their time in school well. Their time as an adult will come.”

The Commissioner is calling on youths and students not to be easily tempted by the glamour and freedom of the adult life has because underlying it were responsibilities that we shoulder every day.