DPP hopes for an independent Police complaints authority

The Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde hopes some consideration could be given to the establishment of an independent police complaints authority.

While speaking during the Fiji Police Force Command Group Retreat, Pryde says the lawyers already have one in the form of the Independent Legal Services Commission and it has enhanced the public’s confidence that complaints against lawyers are dealt with properly and professionally.

He says the establishment of such an authority in Fiji could be at minimal cost but would greatly enhance public confidence in the police adding they must deal with bad police officers transparently and honestly.

Pryde adds they must stop enabling bad police officers and they must stop allowing a minority of officers to damage the reputation of the majority of police officers and the criminal justice system.

He says they have had cases where officers have tried to cover for their colleagues by falsifying their own statements adding these amounts to perverting the course of justice and police officers have been charged for this.

Pryde also says it is vital that the public has trust and confidence in the police force and, by extension, the criminal justice system and they must not be seen to be covering up for each other and they must be honest with the public when things go wrong.