‘One Police Officer is to 204 Fijians’

Police manpower is stretched.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu said the Fiji Police Force had been serving a ratio of one Police officer to 204 Fijians.

ACP Driu said while this was not viable, they were managing with the human resources that they had.

This does not include the surge in number of tourists visiting Fiji every month, ACP Driu said.

“We have noted a surge in the number of tourists coming into Fiji and we also look after these people, but we are managing,” he said.

He said Police officers resigning were being complemented by new recruits that graduate after completing their intensive training programmes.

Drug arrests on a daily basis

ACP Driu said drug-related arrests were an everyday thing for the force.

“In the past 72 hours, we recorded 72 cases/ arrests,” ACP Driu said.

“These are people cultivating drugs and those found in possession of white substances,” he said.

“We have seen that it has dropped for a while compared to the past few months where we have been noticing an increase in meth-related arrests.

“Our operators on the ground have informed us that the cost of meth is high. The price of meth in zip locks have increased from $400 to $500. These packs are then divided into three forms - powder, liquid and ice.”

He said this would be mixed with other chemicals readily available in chemists.

“The biggest worry is that chemicals are made by experts. These people consuming and mixing them with other substances for drug consumption can be harmed from these chemicals.”

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