Overall crime rate for June up by 27% compared to 2023 - Police

The overall crime rate for the month of June has increased by 27 percent when compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Fiji Police Force.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew says the 27 percent increase was linked to the increase in serious crime by 25 percent, crimes against women by 16 percent and crimes against children by 13 percent.

Chew says there were 447 cases of theft, 299 for assault causing actual bodily harm, 198 burglary cases, 145 cases of unlawful possession of illicit drugs and 81 criminal intimidation cases.

He says a 24 percent increase was recorded in domestic violence cases against women and children, where 79 percent of the victims were women and 21 percent children, with the worrying trend of the offences perpetrated within the domestic settings by close relatives.

The Acting Commissioner says last month a 1-year-old boy was assaulted by his 28-year-old father who was under the influence of alcohol.

Also assaulted was the child’s mother. He says a total of 80 sexual offence cases were recorded, consisting of rape followed by indecent assault, sexual assault, indecently insulting or annoying any person, defilement, abduction of person under 18-years of age with intent to have carnal knowledge and attempt to commit rape.

Chew says the youngest sexual offence victim was a 7-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a 15-year-old boy on 2 separate occasions and the alleged incident was investigated by Tavua Police.

He says the 15-year-old accused was also the youngest offender of a sexual offence during the month of June.

The Acting Commissioner says in relation to the increase in burglary cases, there were reports linked to habitual offenders or repeat offenders who were charged multiple times on 2 or 3 separate occasions within the same month.

He says operations were also targeting receivers of stolen goods, with three cases recorded in the previous months of March, April and May.

The Acting Commissioner further says that with the offence of criminal intimidation recording 81 cases and listed as a prevalent offence whereby majority of the offences were again committed within the domestic setting involving family members.

He says uttering threats on whether to harm or damage one’s property is deemed an offence, and while many may say that such threats emanated from a place of anger, they must be aware that it is a crime.

The Acting Commissioner is urging members of the public to resolve their issues in an amicable manner, to avoid becoming a perpetrator of crime.