Lautoka Town Hall

Lautoka City Council is stepping up its efforts to tackle rising criminal activities, including drug-related offences, through a series of initiatives aimed at improving public safety.

The Chief Executive, Mohammed Anees Khan, highlighted this before the Standing Committee on Social Affairs.

Khan says they are working with the police IT department to improve surveillance in drug hotspots.

“They studied the current locations of the cameras and plotted them on a GIS map. They are in the process of identifying hot spot areas that are not currently covered by cameras and where we can install additional cameras to monitor and have these areas under surveillance. And from what we’ve been told, it’s not just throughout the city, it’s also in some suburban areas. “They know the hotspot areas and we have shared what we have and they will use it to improve CCTV camera coverage.”

Khan says they have also offered facilities to Shirley Park and Lautoka Market as police posts.

He adds that they have also identified a third location which is a critical area and are seeking assurances from the police that they will have officers manning the post before the council invests resources to build a mini post for them.

Khan says to counter illegal activities such as theft and pickpocketing, the council has also installed CCTV cameras in key areas such as Lautoka Municipal Market and the bus station.

According to Khan, these cameras have proven to be beneficial in monitoring suspicious activity, deterring crime and improving the safety of residents and visitors.

He adds that, together with the Fiji Police Force, law enforcement officers carry out regular patrols and hold quarterly meetings with various local groups, including the Shoeshine Boys, Wheelbarrow Boys and Crime Prevention Committees.

The chief executive says these meetings have enabled the council and police to respond more effectively to incidents and have successfully apprehended people involved in criminal activity.