Drone flights banned over all Fiji Corrections Service facilities

The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has imposed an immediate ban on all drone activity within and around its correctional facilities.

This follows security concerns after recent incidents of unauthorised aerial surveillance.

In a statement, the FCS said the prohibition applies to all Areas of Operation, including Divisional Headquarters, correctional institutions, officers’ quarters and surrounding zones where drones could be used to capture images, video or conduct surveillance of correctional property, personnel or inmates.

The directive follows what the FCS described as repeated and “concerning” detections of unauthorised drone activity near the Naboro Corrections Complex in recent weeks.

Authorities warned that such activity poses serious risks to inmate security, public safety and the integrity of secure correctional facilities.

The FCS stressed that anyone found operating drones in breach of the ban will face immediate enforcement action.

Under Section 9(1)(f) of the Corrections Act 2006, correction officers are empowered to arrest, without warrant, individuals suspected of committing offences that threaten the security and good order of correctional facilities.

Members of the public have been urged to comply fully with the directive and to refrain from flying or operating drones near any correctional premises.

The FCS has also called on the public to report any suspicious drone activity to the nearest correctional facility or to law enforcement authorities.