4703 Lodged So Far This Month Says Naivalurua
The Minister also pointed out that many of the perpetrators of these crimes were employed individuals, who account for more than half of all offenders.
Monday 17 March 2025 | 13:03
A total of 4703 crime reports have been lodged with Police so far this month.
This was revealed by Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua in Parliament last Friday.
Mr Naivalurua provided an update on the current policing landscape and the strategies employed to tackle crime in Fiji.
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The Minister attributed the rise in reports to the heightened police activity, particularly efforts targeting drug-related offenses.
“For your information, the increase in reports is especially related to the uprooting of drugs,” Mr Naivalurua said, acknowledging the significant efforts made by the Fiji Police Force.
“March 2025 saw 4703 reports, a decrease from 5202 reports recorded during the same month in 2024,” he said.
In terms of specific crime categories, Mr Naivalurua noted that there was a decrease in aggravated burglary cases.
December 2024 recorded 225 cases, which dropped to 159 cases in February 2025. Similarly, aggravated robbery cases saw a decline, from 51 cases in December to 36 in January, and 35 in February.
On the issue of street violence, Mr Naivalurua clarified that while there were no reported cases in the last three months, street violence was not explicitly mentioned in the Crimes Act of 2009.
Instead, assault is categorised as a reportable crime under the law.
The Minister also pointed out that many of the perpetrators of these crimes were employed individuals, who account for more than half of all offenders.
Farmers represent the second largest group, making up 13.5 per cent of those involved in criminal activity.
“The statistics provided by the Fiji Police Force the last three months reflect the effectiveness of the operations and the targeted approach the Fiji Police Force is taking to address these crimes,” Mr Naivalurua said.
He emphasised that the Ministry and the Fiji Police Force remain committed to using a variety of strategies to combat crime and eliminate these notorious offenses.
“The rate at which these crimes are being committed is quite unprecedented, which is why we continue to work steadfastly toward their eradication,” he said.
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