The Fiji Police Force is looking at ways on how best to deal with remanded prisoners held in courthouse cellblocks while awaiting their hearings.

Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho has confirmed receiving reports that some remanded prisoners are given too much liberty.

Reports have surfaced that some remanded prisoners are given the leeway to use their phones and even walk about freely with no handcuffs despite being escorted by the officer on duty.

Brigadier General Qiliho says this is under investigation in light of the recent escape from the Suva courthouse cellblock.

“Yes we had looked at correcting those measures and that’s another thing that we have to look at within investigations and how best we can deal with it. How we need to rotate the officers that handle the prisoners that they don’t get into too much familiarities with those remandees.”

Brigadier General Qiliho says they don’t want to reach a point where his officers are fraternizing with prisoners.

“Like the Stockholm syndrome that’s what we don’t want to happen so that’s what the investigation will bring to my attention so that we can correct it. If it means regular rotation of police officers who handle them than that is what we will have to do.”

The Police Chief also highlighted they’re now awaiting a decision from the Judiciary after testing the video-conferencing of remand prisoners.

He says that can be one of the ways escapes can be avoided.