THERE is no special preference for women in the Fiji Police Force, says Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua.
Instead he urged women officers, who converged at the Labasa Police Station yesterday, to earn their places in the force.
"You must earn your place in the force. There is no special preference given to female officers so there is equal workload and equal pay in the force," Brig-Gen Naivalurua said.
"I am not gender biased. I am trying to get rid off absolutely the policy of gender preference in the force. Everyone has equal chances and we recognise honest and hardworking people," he said.
"We all have equal workload so you must earn your place in the force. We must all pitch in, earn your part in the force even if you're a transport officer, do your best.
"So pull up your socks and I want to see improvement in the next quarter. I am not satisfied with results of the first quarter and I expect a lot from you as female officers in the next quarter."
Brig-Gen Naivalurua told the women they were different from male officers as they had unique gifts of patience and beauty.
"Maybe we should put you in the frontline of our work in dealing with customers, reaching out to the community for public engagement," he said.
"We should give a different image to the force by having you women deal with customers at the front desk and out in communities," he said.
Brig-Gen Naivalurua stressed with the officers to explore and grow in their career.
"Don't accept where you are right now but instead move up to a higher standard. The standard does not come down so you have to take yourself up to the standard," he said.
Brig-Gen Naivalurua said women officers made up 22 per cent of the force.