Police officers charged for giving false statements to cover for colleagues

Serious concerns are being raised after it has been revealed that there are cases where Police officers have tried to cover for their colleagues by falsifying their own statements.

While speaking during the Fiji Police Force Senior Command Group Retreat, the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde says this amounts to perverting the course of justice and police officers have been charged.

Pryde also says it is vital that the public has trust and confidence in the police force and, by extension, the criminal justice system and they must not be seen to be covering up for each other and they must be honest with the public when things go wrong.

He adds they must not enable a culture where the public perceives them to be protecting their own.

Pryde also says the establishment of an independent police complaints authority would greatly enhance public confidence in the police adding they must deal with bad police officers transparently and honestly.

He says the establishment of such an authority in Fiji could be at minimal cost .