No place for guns in the Police Force - Naivalurua

Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua says there is no place for guns in the Fiji Police Force right now, and he does not foresee that for the Force in the near future.

Speaking to fijivillage News on the recommendation made by Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma on the use of body cams and tasers, Naivalurua says that this is already in their plans to improve police operations.

He says right now, they are ensuring that the laws are in place when this is brought about and used, so that it's also covered within the provisions of the law.

The Minister says this is nothing new as other police organisations globally are using this, and it was also discussed years back.

He adds some of the samples for tasers and body cams are already in the country and tested by the Police Units.

Meanwhile, during the Ministry of Home Affairs Talanoa Session on Illicit Drugs and Substance Use Disorders in Fiji that was held at the Nasinu FNU Campus, the RFMF had proposed the utilization of firearms as a deterrent and means of enhancing security measures in tackling the drug crisis.

Former Attorney General and current Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga had said he can recall that Police and the RFMF have used weapons before and there was a confrontation with drug dealers in Navosa.

He says if police officers are at risk, then it is fair to afford them that same level of protection.