Police: ‘Negligent Parents, Guardians Warned’

Police will question parents and guardians if their children are found playing in flooded rivers, streams or crossings.

Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rusiate Tudravu said the move was to ensure that parents were held responsible for the safety of their children.

ACP Tudravu said people found to be at fault could be charged with disobedience of lawful order in the Criminal Act.

He said Police officers risked their lives in their line of duty because of the irresponsible acts of people.

He highlighted that the Force would enforce all necessary and relevant laws that would teach people a lesson, if they failed to adhere to the directive.

“But that is the last thing we want to do because we do not want to keep on arresting people for disobedience,” he said.

“We would like the people to have some responsibility on their own. What we are doing is for them... All the advisories that have been given since the cyclone was a tropical depression, and the Prime Minister has come out and issued a statement.

“If the head of the Government is concerned then why do people still not adhere to those directives,” ACP Tudravu said.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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