Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has defended the actions of a traffic officer after former minister Jone Usamate described the officer’s conduct as an “overreach” in a social media post.

Commissioner Tudravu said the officer was carrying out his duties after identifying what he considered to be a traffic infringement and had acted accordingly.

He said Mr Usamate, like any other member of the public, has the right to challenge the decision through the courts if he disagrees with the officer’s action.

The Police Commissioner said he stands by the traffic officer and urged members of the public who have concerns about police conduct to use the appropriate channels to lodge their complaints.

The comments come as police maintain that officers should be allowed to perform their duties while members of the public retain the right to seek formal review of decisions they believe are incorrect.