‘Few bad apples tarnish the uniform’

Opposition Member of Parliament Virendra Lal has urged police leadership to act decisively against rogue elements within the force to restore eroding public trust.

Replying to a ministerial statement yesterday, Mr Lal acknowledged that public confidence in the Fiji Police Force is currently facing significant hurdles, adding that these challenges are openly discussed across communities.

However, he strongly defended the integrity of the wider institution, stating that the prevailing negative perception unfairly shadows the vast majority of hard-working personnel.

“We must realise that this negative image is grossly unfair to the majority of dedicated officers who wear the uniform with total honesty,” Mr Lal said.

To address the issue and safeguard the reputation of the force, Mr Lal called for uncompromising accountability from the police leadership.

He maintained that disciplinary actions should be swift and indifferent to an officer’s rank or seniority.

“Police leadership must be very firm. They must come down hard on the few bad apples that tarnish the uniform."