Opposition criticises new policing plan, says community policing will fail without proper resources

The Opposition has slammed the Government’s new policing direction, saying Fiji’s community policing model will fail unless officers are properly equipped, trained and supported.

This comes after the Minister for Policing and Communications, Iowane Naivalurua, delivered an ambitious reform plan in Parliament yesterday, a plan the Opposition argues is disconnected from the everyday struggles of officers on the ground.

Opposition MP Vijay Nath led the criticism, saying many police posts still operate without vehicles, proper uniforms, communication tools or enough officers.

“Good speeches don’t solve crime. Resources do,” he said.

“How can community policing work when volunteers have no uniforms, no transport, no insurance, and police posts are barely functioning? Communities need presence, not promises.”

Mr Nath told Parliament that towns like Nausori often see little police visibility, while rural areas face slow response times because officers simply lack the tools to do their jobs.

He also raised concerns about rising drug abuse, youth crime and domestic violence that communities are struggling to control.

Despite the criticism, Mr Naivalurua defended the Government’s new direction, describing it as a modern and culturally grounded approach that connects policing with development, technology and human security.

He said the challenges raised by the Opposition were exactly why Fiji must shift its policing model.

“This is not just law enforcement. This is nation-building,” Mr Naivalurua said.

At the heart of the Government’s vision is the 20-year Human and National Security Peace Transformation Plan, starting in Kadavu, an island long affected by marijuana cultivation and drug trafficking.

The plan aims to replace illegal income with real opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, youth employment and rural enterprise. It also includes digital connectivity, such as Starlink, for remote villages to report crimes quickly.

Mr Naivalurua said the strategy would expand to other maritime provinces and involve faith groups, chiefs, women, youth and minority communities.

However, the Opposition insists the Government must fix the basics first.

“Community policing cannot succeed if police are under-resourced and overstretched,” Mr Nath said. “We support the idea — but the groundwork must be real.”

The heated exchange ended with both sides agreeing on only one point: Fiji’s communities can only be safe if police are properly supported.

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