It is about time police investigators are trained well into conducting investigative interviews - Tudravu

It is about time that police investigators are trained well into conducting their investigative interviews for the vulnerable suspects, victims and witnesses.

This was highlighted by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu while speaking at the opening of the Fiji Police Force Training of the Trainers in Video Recorded and Investigative Interviewing.

Tudravu says that this is also the first time for their trainers to undertake this sort of training and this has come in a timely manner for them to continue what is required out of them especially when dealing with people in police custody.

16 trainer officers from the Fiji Police Force Sexual Crime Units, CID and those that deal directly with those children or vulnerable will be undertaking this training this week.

While delivering his address, the Acting British High Commissioner, Dave Jones says that police officers perform a vital service that help makes towns and cities safer and the training of trainers’ workshop continues to help vulnerable victims and suspects.

The British High Commission says that the course for this week, participants should anticipate learning on techniques on how to conduct their work while interviewing suspects and importantly how to interview victims.

He adds that it will also provide participants the set of skills required which is also found within the human rights framework.

Jones stressed that when police officers’ respect citizens, it builds public confidence in law enforcement and that in return makes their work less difficult and ultimately less dangerous.

Jones says this training will help build an investigative mind set of police officers and like many other countries there is still much more that can be done to combat such cases.

Jones highlighted that this work will be tough and difficult to some of you but he knows police do not retreat from a challenge.