A Fiji police response unit has been deployed to Levuka after officers were assaulted by a group of men during the weekend.
Fijian police officers patrolling Lautoka. Photo: rafaelbenari/123RF
Seventeen men are in custody at the Levuka Police Station for their alleged involvement in the incident on Saturday, which left three officers hospitalised.
There have already been 129 cases of officers being seriously assaulted so far this year, with the latest incident prompting assistant commisioner of police Rusiate Tuidravu to make a public appeal.
"We still need the support of the community at large. They need to be law-abiding citizens in order for us to work together. We cannot be everywhere at all times. But we need good citizens of this country who are adhering to the law - that they uphold the law."
Mr Tuidravu said three police officers were attending to a report where 20 men from Nauouo, Vatukalo, Toki and Waitovu villages were drinking along Beach Street in the town centre after 7pm.
"The officers asked the men to clear the area but were instead threatened and chased," he said.
"The officers requested backup and more police officers including officers from the National Fire Authority and Fiji Corrections Services were sent in.
"The second attempt made to clear the area resulted in three of the officers sustaining injuries."
Mr Tuidravu said the Levuka incident was "among a growing threat to the lives of police officers in recent months".
He said on Saturday a man walked into a police community post in Suva and attacked a constable with an axe.
A quick response by a police taskforce team helped apprehend the suspect.
Mr Tuidravu said the man had been charged with one count of criminal intimidation and one count of serious assault.
The 37-year-old man is expected to appear in court this week.
Mr Tuidravu warned police would not take threats against the officers' lives lightly.
Earlier last month, one officer died after being stabbed while trying to make an arrest.
Four people are in custody after allegedly assaulting and threatening officers.
Three youths issued death threats towards a patrol team after they were asked to move from an area.
In a separate case, an officer was allegedly assaulted outside a police post.
The suspect was a passenger in a taxi, which had stopped as the driver sought help.
Last week, another officer was injured while manning a checkpoint in Nadi after the suspect's vehicle allegedly hit the officer.
