Crime rate decreases by 20% in April but drug crimes rise by 75%

April saw a decrease in the overall crime rate by 20 percent compared to the same period last year, however, the number of illicit drugs cases registered recorded an increase of 75 percent as the Fiji Police Force has entered wave 3 of Operation Sasamaki.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says of the 215 cases recorded last month, 190 were related to the unlawful possession of illicit drugs and 25 were cases of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs.

He says 195 cases were related to marijuana, and the remaining 20 cases were related to methamphetamine.

Serious crime also recorded a decrease of 28 percent but crimes against women continues to be a concern as the Force recorded an increase of 19 percent.

Tudravu says of the 233 cases of crimes against women received, 47 percent were committed in domestic settings, mostly by spouses or partners.

He says women from the ages of 18-38 were predominantly high in numbers where 89 percent of the reports were assault related while 11 percent were sexual offences.

Tudravu says crimes against children recorded a decrease of 4 percent.

The Commissioner says with crimes against children and women often associated as emotional crimes, they will continue to seek public support in identifying and tackling the root causes of these moral crimes.

He says they have engaged with Vanua and religious based groups, and it is their hope that they will continue to strengthen all efforts towards the protection of women and children.

He says the reductions in overall crime rate were reflected in cases of burglary, robbery, rape and attempted rape, theft of motor vehicle, aggravated burglary, murder, arson and attempted arson, and attempted robbery.

Tudravu says 7 police officers were charged with a range of offences, including assault causing actual bodily harm, indecently insulting or annoying any person, indecent assault, giving false information to a public servant, rape, and forgery.

He says police officers were also victims of crime last month, with 37 serious assaults, 11 reports of damaging property, and six cases of resisting arrest, among others.

Tudravu says the prevalent offence for the month of April was theft, with supermarkets being a popular target with 76 reported cases, followed by specialty retail stores and financial institutions.

He says based on the overall decrease in crime by 20 percent, their operations team will continue to review and restrategise their posture to ensure consistency in service delivery.