Seventeen men are currently in custody at the Levuka Police Station for their involvement in an alleged confrontation which led up to three police officers sustaining injuries.

The three officers had initially attended to a report on Saturday night where 20 men from Nauono Village, Vatukalo Village, Toki Village and Waitovu Village were drinking along Beach Street in Levuka town after 7pm.

The officers had asked the men to clear the area but were threatened and chased.

They then called for backup and more police officers were deployed which also included officers from the National Fire Authority and Fiji Corrections Service.

The second attempt made to clear the area resulted in three of the officers sustaining injuries and three suspects then arrested and taken into custody.

Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu yesterday deployed a twenty men team from the Police Special Response unit to Levuka to assist on the case.

ACP Tudravu said attacks on law enforcement officers is inexcusable and will not be tolerated.

He is urging Fijians to work with the Police.

“I’m calling again for the members of the public to assist us as we continue with our daily routines and also to provide that safety and security for the people of Fiji.”

ACP Tudravu says he will also travel to Levuka to meet the village elders because instead of working together, he notes there are a few members of their communities that have little to no respect for authority.