17 men in custody after alleged attack leaves 3 Levuka officers injured

17 men are in Police custody in Levuka for their alleged involvement in the incident in which three police officers sustaining injuries.

Police say the three officers had initially attended to a report where 20 men from Nauouo Village, Vatukalo Village, Toki Village and Waitovu Village were drinking along Beach Street in Levuka Town after 7pm on Saturday.

The officers had asked the men to clear the area but were threatened and chased.

Police say the officers called for backup and more police officers were deployed which also included officers from the National Fire Authority and Fiji Corrections Service.

They say the second attempt made to clear the area resulted in three of the officers sustaining injuries.

Acting Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu directed the deployment of the twenty men team from the Police Special Response team yesterday morning on the Police Vessel Veiqaravi.

Tudravu says they will not hesitate to deploy their Special response team anywhere in Fiji if there is an attack on their officers.

He says they will also travel to Levuka to meet the village elders because instead of working together there are a few members of their communities that have little to no respect for authority which is why the issue of drinking in public places is a reoccurring problem in the old capital.

The Acting Commissioner acknowledged the support shown by officers from the NFA and Corrections.

Tudravu says where ever government officials including police officers are posted in Fiji, they are making personal sacrifices and one can argue that it's their job, but they do so with passion and dedication to their calling of improving lives of those in their area of operation.

He says that is why they are not taking these attacks lightly and irrespective of whether it takes place at a remote community post or Maritime island, they will deploy officers to back up those who are working hard to keep their communities safe.