The opening of a Fiji Police Force Command Centre in Labasa has seen the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at Seaqaqa, Savusavu and Nabouwalu in Vanua Levu.

There are 16 CCTV cameras installed within the central business area of Labasa and another five will be installed before the end of this year by the Duavata Northern Crime Prevention Carnival committee.

Carnival committee president and Labasa Chamber Commerce and Industries president Satish Kumar is encouraging business operators to install CCTV cameras and get it linked with the Police’s command centre.

He said when there are more cameras in Labasa then it would be easy for the Police to go instantly from situation to situation and provide effective service to the community.

The command center at Labasa Police Station in Labasa on July 21, 2022. Photo: Shratika Naidu

“I understand this would be an expensive exercise, but if we think about the safety of our property, cash and staff, it would be wise to get it done,” Mr Kumar said.

“Cameras would greatly assist the Police in getting things done fast track compared to what used to happen in the past where we waited for days, weeks and even years to get a burglary and theft case solved.”

Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho, during his recent trip to Labasa, said there were numerous things to consider when buying cameras. He explained that things like the quality of cameras needed to be linked up to the system.

“We have to look at the strategic positions of cameras at main areas, blind spots, choke points where we can monitor,” he said.

“I understand we can’t have cameras everywhere as some places have network problems, especially in rural areas.”

He said they needed to look at other service providers explaining that in some places there was Vodafone Fiji Limited reception and other places that had Digicel.

They have a Viber group at the command centre where stations in Vanua Levu which have a network are connected.

“Such as Labasa, Seaqaqa, Nabouwalu, Savusavu, Taveuni, Tukavesi and they will be able to co-ordinate and assist,” he said.

“For example, if a station needs a Police fleet, whichever station is readily available, it can attend to real time situations on the ground.”

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