Police to beef up presence for UB40 concert

Police have stepped up security measures as Nadi prepares for a major influx of visitors ahead of the UB40 concert at King Charles Park on Friday.

Divisional Police Commander Western, Senior Superintendent of Police Lakobo Vaisewa, said police were fully prepared to ensure the event remained safe and incident-free.

“We are preparing for it, and our aim is to ensure it is an incident- and crime-free concert,” SSP Vaisewa said.

He said specialised police resources, including the K9 unit and modern surveillance technology, would be deployed to support the operation.

“We will be very strict on searches at the entrance and will also conduct spot checks on suspicious persons,” he said.

SSP Vaisewa warned concert-goers against engaging in illegal activities, particularly alcohol-related offences.

“We will be enforcing the law strictly on drunk and disorderly behaviour, drunk and incapable persons, and drinking in prohibited places,” he said.

Police presence will also be increased along major highways in the Western Division, with officers closely monitoring traffic flow.

“We have the highways covered. Road users are advised not to rush and not to drink and drive,” SSP Vaisewa said.

Members of the public can expect heightened police visibility in Nadi and Lautoka throughout the concert period.

Meanwhile, Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Lawrence Kumar said the UB40 concert was already delivering positive economic and tourism benefits.

“We have seen the success of similar events in 2024 and 2025, and we anticipate the same strong economic returns from this concert,” Mr Kumar said.

He said hotel occupancy rates were high, with many visitors arriving days early to shop and explore the town.

“These visitors are here to enjoy Fiji, visit popular attractions, enjoy the sunshine and attend the concert,” he said.

Mr Kumar said events of this scale created a ripple effect across the national economy.

“This benefits not just Nadi, but the country as a whole. We encourage more events of this size, with strong collaboration between government and the private sector,” he said.