Police officers are only answerable to the law - Tikoduadua

Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua has stressed to the officers of the Fiji Police Force that they are only answerable to the law and says that when the Force becomes politically motivated, it works outside of its core role.

While opening the Restore Blue Symposium at the Nakasi Police Station, Tikoduadua says since 1987, the Force has come under too many different influences, and one of which is the political influence that has shaped the Force.

While responding to questions from the media, Tikoduadua says since 1987, the Police Force has been riddled with political influence, particularly the appointment of police commissioners.

He says officers need to understand the law before they can follow it and before they can answer to it.

Tikoduadua says too many officers think they know the law, but they do not.

He says this is because when non-police members of society look at how police apply the law, it is not the way they believe the law should be applied or interpreted.

He hopes this is something the police can look at during the two-day symposium.

While responding to questions by media, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew says in the past, Police Commissioners that were appointed, were not supposed to be appointed and were political.

He says they were placed there for a reason, and sometimes, they interfered with investigations, especially against a prominent figure.

Chew says there were external influences on the Commissioner and from the Commissioner to the investigator.

He says there were negative implications against the organisation over the years and they are now trying to realign and understand themselves, change the mindset within the organisation and do what they are supposed to do as a police officer and do the best they can to serve the general public.