Deputy Commissioner of Police Itendra Nair says cases of Police brutality are not institutionalised.

Nair said every report of Police brutality is formally reported by the complainant and the internal affairs team within the Fiji Police Force carries out its investigation.

He said after the investigation is carried out, the file is sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether the officer involved should be criminally charged.

“As an institution, we take it the there will be always isolated incidents of such a nature. As soon as it is reported, our internal affairs kicks in and starts doing its investigation,” he said.

“So in any organisation, you will have some elements as such that some people will overstep and overreact if any incident as such is reported.

“But as I've stated today, that if there are breaches, we deal with the individuals as such. They are taken internally within our disciplinary mechanism.

“They are also taken to task in terms of the criminal jurisdiction, this is done after we have received a confirmation from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“We stand for human rights and we make sure that the citizens of the country are able to move around freely but with rights come responsibility,” he said.

He said Police officers have every right to detain or arrest a person for breaching the law as they are empowered by the law to carry out their duties.

By Nacanieli Tuilevuka