Teenage girls among majority of Fiji's missing persons reports

At least 18 people, including 11 females, most of them teenage girls and young women,have been reported missing across Fiji, according to the Fiji Police Force Crime Stoppers list.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said officers were treating every report seriously while urging families to first check with relatives and friends before lodging missing persons reports.

The list, compiled from reports lodged at police stations in Nakasi, Nausori, Totogo, Labasa, Korovou, Lautoka, Ba and Sigatoka, includes a 13-year-old from Nadi, who has been missing since May 21, and an 84-year-old from Ba, who has been missing since April 24.

Mr Tudravu said missing persons cases were not always what they appeared to be.

"I’m concerned because we are creating awareness on missing persons. They are not out there somewhere. We cannot locate them.

"They must be residing with their friends, relatives. The only thing is for them to identify themselves. Just call us or call their family members where they are," he said.

He said it was common for people to leave home without informing relatives, prompting families to lodge police reports.

"It’s normal here in Fiji that people go out and don’t inform their relatives. That is why the relatives have reported the matter," he said.

Mr Tudravu said Police carried out preliminary inquiries within 24 to 48 hours of a report before opening formal investigation files.

"So, we do preliminary enquiry within the next 24-48 hours. And then we start to open up files if there are no other information coming in," he said.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 919, 917 or 9905 296.