Communication is key

Communication is key. During the two-week school break, the Fiji Police Force is reiterating the importance of communication.

Assistant Commissioner of Police – Operations (ACP) Livai Driu said children need to be able to communicate their intentions freely without fear of being reprimanded. ACP Driu said in most cases where children are reported missing, they are either found at a friend's or relative's house.

He added when a missing person’s report is received, both the uniform branch and Criminal Investigations Department get involved.

“Children are home for the next two weeks, and if they are not engaged in some form of school holiday activities or something constructive, they will get bored and surely, they will try to reach out to their friends or other peer groups”.

“It’s better that to know who they are spending their time with, rather than them needing to go behind your back, and end up in a situation that can impact their safety, health and future”. ACP Driu is also requesting parents to spend quality time with their children.

“When you create an environment where children feel free to talk about issues, they won’t feel that they have to hide things from you, while at the same time you will have a better understanding what is going on in their lives".

"The honest reality is, there are too many engagements taking our valuable time away from our children, so during this two-week break, we ask that you re-engage with your children, by spending quality time with them”.

The head of the Fiji Police operations is also urging better communication between parents.