13 cases of sexual offences recorded in the first 15 days of 2023

13 cases of sexual offences have been recorded in the first 15 days of 2023 and this has concerned the Fiji Police Force.

Police say ten of the victims were below the age of 17 years, two victims were women aged between 25 to 31 years and one in her mid 50s.

According to Police, these sexual offences include rape, indecent assault, sexual assault, abduction of person under 18 years of age with intent to have carnal knowledge and defilement of young person between 13 to 16 years of age.

Police say what is more concerning are the offences being committed by relatives which include cousins, uncles and a case where a woman was allegedly raped on five separate occasions by her 30 year old brother-in-law.

Majority of the cases were reported in the Northern Division with the Southern and Western Division recording 2 cases each.

Police say crimes against women and children remain a major concern and the Fiji Police Force reiterates the need for more support towards curbing these crimes.

Police further say these are moral crimes that need to be addressed through holistic efforts and through the Divisional Police Commanders and Divisional Managers Community Policing, their doors are open to working together towards finding solutions to these crimes for the sake of protecting women and children in our society.