Police, religious organizations and NGOs profile young dwellers living in towns and cities

The Fiji Police Force, religious organizations and NGOs are taking a collective approach to profile and deal with the increase of young individuals loitering in towns and cities.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu says the Fiji Police Force welcomes the call made by religious organizations that aims to learn and address issues faced by young people and street dwellers.

He says following concerns raised on the number of youths on the streets, Attorney General Siromi Turaga, Assistant Minister for Women and Children Sashi Kiran and the Fiji Police sat in a meeting to work for a possible way forward.

ACP Driu says their taskforce team managed to profile more than 30 adults and children.

He says through their discovery effort, they found out that some children had opted to live in Suva due to safety concerns at home, as some were suspected child abuse victims while some were referred to the Police and other stakeholders for counseling and investigations.

He says the Fiji Police shares the sentiments shared by religious leaders of strengthening the family institution as everything starts from home.

ACP Driu says if these young people are choosing life on the streets rather than being at home, we need to look into the why factors.

He says the task force is working on identifying the why factors so that the solutions can be targeted rather than a band-aid solution.

ACP Driu says the Police are committed to this exercise to assist proactive policing measures in keeping young innocent lives from falling on the wrong side of the law.