Nadi Horse Owners Help Police Operation
The main purpose for the Police is to use horses because offenders won’t be able to recognise us other than coming into the police vehicles.
Monday 18 January 2021 | 23:18
Horse owners in the Nadi area are helping out the Fiji Police Force during their night-time Horses Patrol Operation programme.
The Horses Patrol Operation programme has been revived again after a 20 years hiatus. The programme started last Friday night from 8pm to 10:30pm.
Twenty horses were provided by community members in Nawaka, Namulomulo, Solovi, Megania, Katiqari, Vutuvutu, Nasau, Namoli and Alladatta. The majority of horses were provided by Nawaka villagers.
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Horse owners were also involved in the night-time operation. One of the horse owners was Api Naevo, a former Flying Fijian.
He said it was an important initiative to ensure safety of people in these challenging times.
“This is very important to us in giving our horses to ensure safety for our people and bring awareness to them,” he said.
“Many of these people have been affected by the pandemic and have no jobs. Some tend to steal. It is important for us to make them aware that stealing is not the right way to solve their problems. There are many better alternatives which they can follow.
Mr Naevo said that at night they patrolled on horseback and accompanied the Police vehicles.
“We go out to the places where the vehicles have no access,” he said.
Meanwhile, Officer in Charge of Nadi Police Station (OCPD/Nadi) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Esira Bari said they had established the Veilomani Operation years ago which was one of its initiatives was using horse patrols.
“We have revived it in order to reduce the crime level in these areas,” ASP Bari said.
“The main purpose for the Police is to use horses because offenders won’t be able to recognise us other than coming into the police vehicles.”
ASP Bari said Mulomulo and Nawai were two main communities in Nadi where thieves tended to steal horses and used them for any crime activities.
“They used horses because it gallops faster anywhere in the sugarcane field or in the bush,” he said.
He also said the Nadi Police with the Crime Prevention Committee were working with advisory councils, village headmen and the district representatives to raise awareness to the various communities
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