Police Commissioner opens Traffic Investigators Course

“A Police officer cannot be an investigator, jury and judge”.

These were the words of Commissioner of Police, Ben Groenewald while opening the Traffic Investigators Course together with the CID Investigators Level 3 Course at the Fiji Police Academy.

The head of the organization stressed the importance of being unprejudiced in the execution of their duties.

He said the general goal of a police officer is the maintenance of order in a manner compatible with the constitutional rights of an individual.

Groenewald told the officers that it is imperative that they must not have preconceived ideas regarding a report and be objective in the maintenance of law and order.

He stated to the officers that they have the legal power and authority to execute the duties expected of a police officer but when they discriminate due to a person’s race, ethnicity or social status then they are opening themselves up for corruption which is not acceptable.

Commissioner Groenewald also reiterated the need to forge improved partnerships with members of the community.

The Traffic Investigators Course is being attended by 33 Police officers including four Land Transport Authority Officers while the CID Investigators Level Course includes officers from FICAC, Ministry of Fisheries, Water Authority of Fiji and the Ministry of Justice.