The Fiji Police Force says arrests alone will not provide a long-term solution to Fiji’s growing concerns over crime, calling instead for a whole-of-nation approach to tackle the root causes of offending.

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says police accept criticism of their handling of recent aggravated robberies and burglaries, but stressed that communities also have an important role to play in preventing crime.

Tudravu says the Force is taking the concerns seriously and is reviewing its operational approach to ensure police responses are more proactive rather than reactive.

Despite recent public concerns, police statistics show decreases in several serious crimes between January and July this year, compared with the same period in 2025.

Burglary dropped by 7.3 percent, robbery by 32.8 percent, aggravated robbery by 17.8 percent, aggravated burglary by 7.7 percent, and theft by 7.9 percent.

However, theft of motor vehicles has moved in the opposite direction, increasing from 31 cases in the first seven months of 2025 to 51 cases during the same period this year.

The Commissioner says the bigger question now is not only how offenders are arrested, but why they continue to offend.

He says police continue to encounter habitual offenders with multiple theft and burglary cases, raising questions about what drives them back into crime and what can effectively deter them.

Tudravu says Fiji needs meaningful discussions around the issue, including whether existing laws are strong enough to deter repeat offending and what alternatives can be provided to people who have become reliant on crime as a means of earning a living.

The Police Commissioner also acknowledged the growing investment in CCTV cameras by businesses, communities and the public sector, saying the technology has assisted police investigations.

However, he stressed that the public should not assume police only act after crime footage is posted on social media.

According to police figures, the overall crime rate also fell by 11 percent during the first seven months of the year, from 11,387 cases in 2025 to 10,106 cases in 2026.

Tudravu says while the figures may be met with scepticism, police are willing to accept constructive criticism if it helps prevent predictable policing patterns that offenders could exploit.

He is now calling on stakeholders to join the conversation through the Police Community Policing arm.

The Commissioner says crime is not an issue that can be left to police alone.