THE Fiji Police Force has organised a week-long divisional crime prevention festival in Lautoka in its effort to reduce the crime rate in the Western Division.
Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said the objective of the carnival was to establish and develop a good rapport with the community and bridge the differences in the quest for better crime control and prevention.
"Throughout the week the Fiji Police Villa will be used as an avenue to create more awareness, outreach and to advocate in the hope of curtailing the influx in crime and accomplish the divisional key performance indicators," she said.
"It is also hoped enough funds will be raised for the upgrading of community posts in the division and to help establish mobile caravans.
"The west is undoubtedly the hub of Fiji's economic activity and as such both the police force and community council believe more needs to be done to ensure it retains its golden reputation."
Ms Naisoro said the carnival was envisaged to help foster stronger partnerships between the police, community and business houses to create a crime free environment that will benefit all parties.
The week-long event with the theme 'Together we can make a difference' saw divisional police commander Western Senior Superintendent of Police Salacieli Naivilawasa along with the Western Division community policing commander Faiyaz Ali leading the march through the sugar city on Saturday.