The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it will not go ahead with any Draft Police Bill consultations and will only take people’s views on what should be in a bill to review the current Police Act.
When questioned by Legend FM News, the Defence Ministry says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has made the announcement to retract the current draft bill and they have postponed the consultations based on that.
When we asked the Ministry whether the consultations have been cancelled or postponed, the Defence Ministry says they will use the 1965 Police Act for members of the public to make submissions on what they want in a modernised Police law.
Bainimarama has confirmed to Legend FM News that the government has retracted consultations on the Draft Police Bill.
The Prime Minister says the draft bill was not endorsed by the Solicitor General and cabinet.
He says what was endorsed was consultation on the old Police Act 1965, not on a Draft Police Bill.
The Prime Minister says the draft bill was prepared by Police and the contents of the draft do not represent government policy.
Meanwhile Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu will not make any comments on the issue.
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