South African professor conducts workshop with Legal Aid and Police

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is currently conducting workshops on the responsibilities of Police during an arrest and the importance of Legal Aid.

This workshop is facilitated by South African Professor David Mason who is a law based professor and an advocate of the High Court of South Africa.

Mason says that Fiji is the first developing country that has introduced the “First Hour Procedure” which ensures that people do not get tortured or beaten by Police during the interview process.

He adds that Fiji is also one of the first developing countries taking the lead on the seriousness of United Nations guidelines and principles of Legal Aid.

Mason says this will help ensure that the rule of law is applied.

Mason says one of the things that need to be changed for Fiji in the interview process with Police is when suspects do not have lawyers present when they are being interviewed.

Mason says that he hopes the senior officers of the police force would enforce the training with officers in the field and in police academies.