NINETEEN Police officers from five Pacific island countries are attending a regional training to develop skills necessary to deliver video recorded interviews and investigative interviewing training.
Sixteen men and three women officers from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Nauru are taking part in the five-day workshop organised by the Fiji Police Force.
In a statement, Fiji’s Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu reaffirmed the Fiji Police Force’s commitment in upholding the fundamental rights of detained persons, and described the efforts made to date as a win-win situation.
“We have seen the benefits of this project as it has safeguarded the interests of our officers as well as detained persons, and being the prime law enforcement agency, it is our fundamental duty to protect human rights and we will continue to support Government’s efforts in upholding the provisions of the UN Convention Against Torture,” ADCP Tudravu said.
British High Commissioner to Fiji Melanie Hopkins opened the training saying the UK was pleased to continue its support in partnership with UNDP to the Fiji Police Force on this project that had been running for two years following Fiji’s ratification of the UN Convention against Torture.
“A fundamental part of the UK government’s foreign policy is to support countries implement their human rights policies,” Ms Hopkins said.
UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji officer-in-charge Salma Elhagyousif said: “I would like to congratulate the Fiji Police Force for undertaking this initiative following the commencement of pilot work on the ‘First Hour Procedure and Video Recorded Interviews’, and for their continuous efforts to implement the UN Convention against Torture.”
The regional training is being delivered by Fiji Police Force trainers certified through a 2017 Training of Trainers supported by the British High Commission and the United Nations Development Programme.
The workshop ends on Friday.
