Police forensic equipment upgrades slated for next budget

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has confirmed that upgrades to equipment at the Police Forensic Department will be included in the next national Budget.

Mr Tudravu made the confirmation during the monthly press conference at Police Headquarters in Suva yesterday.

His comments follow concerns raised on several occasions last year in the High Court in Suva over the lack of equipment and the continued use of ageing forensic machines.

Earlier last year, forensic pathologist James Kalougivaki, while testifying as a witness in a High Court case, called for additional equipment to support credible forensic findings.

Mr Tudravu said the Police Forensic Department’s work was not limited to Fiji, as it also supported cases from other regional countries.

“We’ll discuss this in our next budget session — how we can improve, taking into account lessons learned from the challenges we are facing now,” he said.

The Police Commissioner added that the term “outdated” was not appropriate, noting that policing personnel were working within existing limitations.

“We are not out of date. That word is not relevant. Our officers are doing their best and we just need to equip them better. We have the capability within our forensic officers to do the work,” Mr Tudravu said.