Fiji Police Force officers could soon be carrying taser guns.

Police are now considering this option in the wake of recent attacks on officers.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said they were in talks with the Australian Federal Police.

“It is one of the options that we are looking at and things will happen. At the moment we have pepper spray, we are trying to put the batons as a next step up from the pepper sprays.”

“We have to go on those levels. When the tasers come in, not every police officer will be issued with a taser.”

Two weeks ago, Constable Siuta Niumataiwalu was allegedly stabbed to death in the line of duty. Over the weekend, seven police officers were allegedly assaulted.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho

Mr Qiliho said these were isolated incidents and Police were not subject to the assault on a daily basis. He said besides that, this showed a social breakdown.

“There might be a handful of people who are not pleased with the way we have been doing things,” he said.

“At the moment, there is nobody else to blame but the Police. Where is society in all of these, where are the community leaders in all of these, where are the chiefs in all of these, where are the church leaders in all of these?

“Nobody is making a statement, this is disappointing.”

Minister for Defence and National Security Inia Seruiratu has called on the public to rally their support behind the Police.

“The Police Force is there for everyone. We need to work with the Police and not against them as they have a responsibility to enforce the law. Work with your Police,” he said.

A taser is an electrical weapon which fires two small barbed darts intended to puncture the skin and remain attached to the target.

The darts are connected to the main unit by thin insulated copper wire and deliver a modulated electric current designed to disrupt voluntary control of muscles, causing neuromuscular incapacitation.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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