Body cameras and 1,000 new recruits are coming soon – COMPOL

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has outlined major developments for the Fiji Police Force, including plans for body-worn cameras, station upgrades, the recruitment of 1000 new officers, and support received through the national budget.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Commissioner Tudravu says that while the body camera initiative is a priority, it involves more than just distributing equipment to officers.

He says that they need proper infrastructure — storage facilities, systems to offload and manage data, and officer training.

When questioned on concerns about inconsistent police presence in public areas, Tudravu explained that the deployment is managed at the divisional level.

He says it depends on the presence on the ground, and he leaves it to the divisional commanders to make decisions - this means that some areas will see beefed-up operations with foot patrols, while at other times the presence may be lower, depending on the situation.

Commissioner Tudravu also extended his appreciation to the government for listening to their plea, saying that the new budget met the Force's expectations and addressed their recommendations.

He says it is now up to them to determine how well they will plan and utilise what has been provided by the government, and that it is all in line with their intention to improve service delivery.

Tudravu says that in line with the budget announcement made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, the recruitment of 1,000 new police officers will begin next month.

He adds that the advertisement for recruitment will be going out, and they will take in 500 officers as part of the initial intake.