The Fiji Police Force is currently undergoing a five-year reform and restructuring plan.

Defense Minister, Inia Seruiratu says the vision behind this plan is to align strategy, capabilities and resources.

Speaking in Parliament, Seruiratu revealed some of the key components of the restructure.

“First on the manning level honorable speaker sir. The plan is in the next five years is to almost double the number of policeman and women in the country. Currently, we have about 3,241 and the intention is to increase it to about 7,582. So an additional of 4,341. So based on the studies that have already been undertaken – we need to increase the number of police force significantly.”

The Minister adds that special constables are also included in this reform.

“The priority apart from new intakes is towards the serving special constables to be regularized for obvious reasons. They are already experienced, trained and have already been equipped and most of them are rugby players.”

Seruiratu says their targeting to recruit 601 new officers this year and they’ve already trained about 400 officers during the recruitment period with the last intake in July.