Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says there are still concerns about a few crimes, which they recorded an increase within Fiji in December.
He says the Southern Division recorded an increase in reports of rape and attempted rape cases, where 19 cases were recorded compared to 5 in 2021, and also there was an increase in reports of defilement of young persons between 13 to 16 years, where 2 cases were recorded compared to none in 2021.
Qiliho adds that motor vehicle theft also increased, with 3 cases recorded last year, compared to none in 2021.
The Commissioner says the Western Division recorded an increase in murder cases recording 3 in 2022 compared to 1 in 2021, an increase in aggravated robberies with 9 cases compared to 6 in 2021, an increase in arson and setting fire to crop cases from no cases in 2021 to 2 last year, while motor vehicle theft recorded 5 cases compared to none in 2021.
Qiliho says the Eastern Division recorded an increase in rape and attempted rape cases, where no cases were recorded in 2021 to 7 in 2022, an increase in aggravated robbery cases from 1 in 2021 to 7 in 2022, and increases in burglary and motor vehicle theft cases.
He says burglary cases increased in the Northern Division, with 17 cases recorded last year compared to 8 in 2021, while the Central Division recorded an increase in motor vehicle theft, with 3 reports last year compared to 1 for the previous year.
The Commissioner says Divisional Police Commanders through their respective planning teams will work on strengthening Community Policing initiatives through their Divisional Manager Community Policing to focus on proactive measures targeting the offences of concern.
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