Police deploy 140 recruits to strengthen community presence

The Fiji Police Force will deploy 140 newly graduated recruits to police stations and posts across the country to strengthen frontline services and improve visibility in communities.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said the officers would fill long-standing vacancies and enhance public service delivery.

“Our priority is to push our manpower towards the stations and police posts,” Mr Tudravu said after the passing-out parade of Basic Recruits Course Batch 69 on Friday.

“We want maximum visibility and the level of service required by members of the public.”

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who addressed the recruits during the ceremony, urged them to uphold integrity, ethics and public trust throughout their careers.

Mr Tudravu said the Prime Minister’s message reinforced the values already taught during police training and reminded officers to remain professional and accountable.

The Commissioner also announced improvements to recruit training, including the return of obstacle courses and self-defence exercises to better prepare officers for challenges in the field.

He confirmed that future recruit courses would be extended from four months to six months.

Mr Tudravu said the longer training programme would strengthen discipline, professionalism and operational readiness, ensuring better equipped officers to meet the demands of modern policing and serve communities effectively across the country.