Corrections officers face abuse from inmates in remand centres

The Fiji Corrections Service has raised concerns about the attitude of some people brought into the remand centres awaiting their court hearing who abuse Corrections Service staff.

Corrections Services Public Relations Officer, Jone Kalouniviti says they have seen a sudden increase in this attitude from people who are in remand.

Kalouniviti says the welfare of the officers is paramount and the officers’ safety is at risk when people take matters into their own hands and threaten to harm the well-being of these officers.

He says they have had issues when officers are punched and threatened by inmates at the centre, and his major worry is the possibility of them getting severe injuries if certain objects are used in their facilities.

Kalouniviti says they are dealing with these people and are providing counseling to their officers as well.