We need more Police Officers at the Vatuwaqa Police Post, says Shameem Khan.

The district advisory councilor and neighbourhood watch president for Vatuwaqa said criminal activities in the area was becoming a major concern for the residents.

He claimed that the Police were always late to the crime scenes.

Speaking during the Fiji Police Force National Community Policing at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour on Thursday, he said that he had made several attempts to invite Police Officers to his home to discuss community policing initiatives, but no one came so far.

He said drugs and thefts were mostly done by people from the area, adding that the biggest factor behind crime were the three informal settlements in Vatuwaqa.

“A woman was robbed a week ago. Her phone was taken. I called the police and it came after three or four hours,” Mr Khan said.

“Police was able to catch the culprit and retrieve the phone but then the poor woman was told that her phone would be given back to her after three to four months. They can take a picture of the phone and give it to her.”

He asked police officers present at the symposium to engage more with the community.

Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji vice president, Jagdish Chand, said similar incidents had happened in his area in Samabula.

He said police engagement was needed to give confidence to the community.

Feedback:  shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj