Divisional Police Commanders have been told to visit picnic spots around the country to remind people of the importance of taking heed of advice especially with the current wet weather conditions.

The directive comes from the Acting Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho.

With the current drowning toll already standing at 35 compared to 47 from the same period last year, the Fiji Police Force is concerned that more cases are cropping up as people are not taking heed of advice.

I was out at sea for three hours on Staurday and i came back because the seas were choppy between Nukulau and Makuluva and i was quite surprised that kids were out quite further out from the shore from the Suva Point area and picnic areas around Suva. It shows the community are not taking heed of advice and parents and guardians are not looking after the young ones to allow them to come out quite far out from the shore areas.

Qiliho reiterates that Police cannot be everywhere all the time and it comes down to the community to work together in ensuring the safety of everyone.