Introduction
We have long had a culture in Fiji of people resorting to violence; whether it is against women in the home, instilling discipline in our children or the police attempting to extract confessions from criminal suspects. The culture of what we call the buturaki – the beating – is deeply ingrained in parts of the Fijian psyche. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during his opening speech during a regional UN workshop (Amnesty International, 2016a
Over the past few decades, police brutality has become a persistent and disturbing feature of law enforcement in Fiji. Between 2015 and 2020, over 400 charges of serious violence were filed against officers, including cases of rape, manslaughter, and murder (Anthony, 2020). Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also described the use of excessive and unlawful force, particularly against detainees and escaped prisoners. While some incidents have drawn public and international attention, the full extent of the violence remains unclear due to limited data, lack of transparency, and a broader culture of silence. Against this backdrop, this article examines the legal, structural, and cultural factors enabling police violence in Fiji, and the barriers that continue to undermine meaningful reform and accountability.
Structural Challenges, Corruption, and Legal Shortcomings
There is a toxic culture of brutality and intimidation within Fiji’s police force, with allegations of widespread violations of human rights (Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, 2022).
Structural Challenges, and Legal Shortcomings
Fiji’s 2013 Constitution guarantees rights to life and protection from torture (The Republic of Fiji, 2013). Yet, it does not specifically pertain to the use of force by the Fiji Police Force or Corrections Services. Moreover, certain provisions in national legislation do not comply with international standards (The Law on Police Use of Force, 2025). The 2009 Criminal Procedure Decree states, “If a person forcibly resists an arrest, or attempts to evade the arrest, all means necessary to effect the arrest may be used by the police officer or person authorised by this Decree to make this arrest” (The Republic of Fiji, 2009). This broad language can justify excessive force and contradicts international guidelines on the proportionate and necessary use of force. The 2006 Prisons and Corrections Act, particularly its Section 40(1) permits the use of force and firearms by prison officers only in limited circumstances such as self-defence, escape attempts or resistance, but requires proportionality and prior warning, although these provisions still fall short of international legal standards.
Regarding compliance with international law, Fiji ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2018 (United Nations, 1967), but as of July 2025, it has still not submitted its initial report. Similarly, although Fiji signed and ratified the Convention against Torture (CAT) (United Nations, 1984), it has not submitted its report due in 2017, also as of July 2025 (The Law on Police Use of Force, 2025).
There is arguably an important discrepancy between the legal provisions and their implementation (Amnesty International, 2016), as according to O’Sullivan (2022), “public order is a widely used pretext for setting aside due process, the rule of law and fundamental human rights”, highlighting shortcomings regarding transparency and the potential obstruction of investigations. In some instances, such as one case in which the claim that a Fijian man died from a jump was rejected by witnesses, alternative accounts alleged police brutality. (Anthony, 2020).
Since the 2006 coup, the overlap between the military and civilian policing has remained present within Fiji’s law enforcement. Reports by Amnesty International have raised concerns about the appointment of former military personnel to senior roles in the police force and correction services (Amnesty International, 2016; Bhim, 2025). These overlaps have raised questions concerning the validity of investigations into cases where police and military are suspected of abuse (Amnesty International, 2016; Anthony & Doherty, 2020). Moreover, in a few cases where the perpetrators were prosecuted and convicted, some were later released and allowed to return to previous positions (Amnesty International, 2016).
Corruption
Corruption, bribery and other misconduct in Fiji are a significant problem (Prasad, 2024), entrenching the issues in a broader context of structural impunity. Corruption is attributed to low incomes and entrenched impunity, despite government claims of reform (Foon, 2024).
Normalisation of Police Violence and Culture of Impunity
Violence is one of these entrenched systemic barriers (O’Sullivan, 2022).
Violence and beating have become an integral part of Fijian society, especially within the forces, “in the police and corrections services, it is endemic” (O’Sullivan, 2022; Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, 2022), surrounded by an important culture of impunity. The security forces are placed above the law, resulting in extensive immunities, with little to no accountability (Anthony & Doherty, 2020; Amnesty International, 2016). Moreover, with a lack of independent oversight, “the police are effectively left to police themselves” (Amnesty International, 2016).
Brutality has also been used for intimidation and confessions purposes. Several court cases have demonstrated the use of torture to coerce confessions by the accused (Amnesty International, 2016; Amnesty International, n.d.). In cases such as State v Yalibula FJHC 382 (2015) or State v Kadre FJHC 442 (2015), the accused claimed they were forced to confess after being tortured by the police. The confessions were then ruled as inadmissible by the judge (Amnesty International, 2016). Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher argued, “In Fiji, accountability for torture is the exception rather than the rule” (Amnesty International, n.d.).
The consistent struggle to address past wrongs and current abuses of power has further entrenched a lack of trust and confidence in the forces, thus anchoring the culture of silence and impunity, as victims are discouraged from reporting on violence and brutality (Amnesty International, 2016), resulting in a vicious cycle. According to the Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (2022):
Presence of legislation that affords police officers discretion to use any level of force in a wide range of circumstances, coupled with a virtual guarantee of impunity, could be encouraging inappropriate and violent behaviour at a systemic level within Fiji’s security sector (Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, 2022).
Alert and Need for Change
An effective police force is the bedrock on which peace, law and order are maintained. These things are among the greatest gifts any society can offer its people. So, any public body concerned with rule of law must be concerned about the effect of these allegations on public confidence in the police force as an institution. (O’Sullivan, 2022).
The police violence in Fiji has raised an alarm. The UN, Amnesty International, and the Law on Police Use of Force Worldwide have alerted on the situation and made important recommendations for improvement. In its “Beating Justice” report, Amnesty International documented human rights violations stemming from abuses of power by authorities. Amongst other recommendations, the organisation has emphasised the need for independent oversight of the police and military, the withdrawal of the military from police duties, and addressing the issue of security forces being “above the law” to confront the deeply entrenched culture of impunity (O’Sullivan, 2022; Amnesty International, 2016). Further recommendations include legal amendments to restrict the use of firearms by officers solely for self-defence and threat to life (The Law on Police Use of Force, 2025).
During Fiji’s 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the UN recommended mandatory human rights training for officers, and concerns regarding the vague language in certain acts were raised. The civil society groups further noted that most complaints received since 2019 were related to police brutality, prison violence, and other important threats (The Law on Police Use of Force, 2025). Already in its 2014 UPR, Fiji stated that it had taken steps to increase transparency and modernise police procedures. It had also recognised limitations, specifically regarding torture, “a longstanding problem in the country”, or the shortcomings in investigations as well as the blind-eye on police brutality (The Law on Police Use of Force, 2025; United Nations Human Rights Council, 2014). It thus recognised the need for improvements and training with support from specialised organisations to tackle the issue.
Collaborations have taken place between the Fiji police force and international organisations, such as the human rights training of officers together with the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Pacific (OHCHR, 2016; Amnesty International, 2016). The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) in Fiji has also warned about the situation and called for an end to the brutality. Through the call, the NGOCHR has emphasised the need for Fiji to implement actions in relation to the commitments made during the 2018 Universal Periodic Review (NGOCHR, 2021).
Recently, an investigation initiated by the President, Raty Naiqama Lalabalavu, involving a formal referral of the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to both the Fiji Police Force and FICAC itself. This high-level investigation into possible misconduct, corruption, or procedural violations linked to the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner reflects a significant step toward accountability and transparency within Fiji’s anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions (Chand, 2025). Moreover, discussions surrounding the implementation of body cameras on officers have taken place as part of a larger plan to tackle police brutality, which also includes internal investigations, the “police blue culture” restoration, use-of-force policy, and officer training (Naivalurua, 2024).
Yet, despite some advancements, as outlined by Amnesty International (2016), there are significant shortcomings in the current legal framework, and the application of laws and policies on the field. Therefore, it is important to challenge the overarching culture of violence and impunity to truly tackle such human rights violations.
Conclusion
Police brutality in Fiji has been a significant issue over the past few decades, with security forces using excessive and unnecessary violence, taking the form of torture, rape, manslaughter, and murder. Yet, these incidents are not isolated. They are part of a broader systemic issue rooted in a culture of violence and impunity, which exploit gaps in the legal framework. The victims are often left without justice, particularly due to a lack of transparency and independence within investigations.
Challenging security forces’ brutality and violence requires structural reforms and legal amendments, notably through independent investigations into abuses, mandatory human rights training for police officers, and accessible avenues for victims to seek redress. Yet, for effective and lasting results, the widespread culture of impunity and violence must be addressed.
In other words, breaking the cycle of police violence in Fiji requires confronting the broader social attitudes and institutional weaknesses that allow it to persist.
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