Courtesy Call

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland High Commissioner to Fiji, Dr Brian James Jones says one of his priorities during his tenure in Fiji is to further strengthen the strong links that exist between the British and Fiji Police Forces .

The assurance was relayed to the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho and senior Command members of the Fiji Police Force during a courtesy call to the Fiji Police Headquarters this morning.

H.E. Dr Jones held discussions with the Commissioner of Police regarding modern day policing challenges in areas such as narcotics and cybercrime.

Brigadier General Qiliho while speaking on the way forward with regards to the use of technology said, “We have started establishing electronic command centers investing in technology where Australia and new Zealand had stepped up just before COVID and they were used during COVID special operations and now the monitoring of the criminal landscape”.

He stressed that with all assistance provided towards the Fiji Police's efforts of capacity building, the Fiji Police emphasizes the importance of ensuring neighbouring island states will also benefit from shared knowledge and experiences.

H.E. Dr Jones acknowledged the work of the Fiji Police during the pandemic having to work in a new environment dealing with the unknown.

He also commended the organisation for its contribution to international peacekeeping.

Dr Jones assured the Commissioner of Police of his Government's support towards the strengthening of working relations between the Fiji and British law enforcement.

“There are strong links between British and Fijian Police and part of my duties as the High Commissioner is to make sure that those links stay strong and that we further establish stronger links on the people to people level between the police forces here in Fiji and the UK.

On the training and regional level, with Australia, New Zealand and our American friends there is much more that unites us in spite of the distance, than there is that divides us”.

The British High Commissioner was accorded a quarter guard ceremony in honour of his first visit to the Fiji Police Headquarters.