Public Perceptions of Police in Fiji

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10439862221096942
• Published date: 01 August 2022
• Date: 01 August 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/10439862221096942

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

2022, Vol. 38(3) 295 –310

© The Author(s) 2022

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DOI: 10.1177/10439862221096942

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Article

Public Perceptions of Police

in Fiji

Anand Chand1, Maureen Fatiaki Karan1,

and Pariniappa Goundar1

Abstract

Members of the public may have positive, negative, or mixed perceptions of

police. Previous research has demonstrated that public perceptions are shaped by

their experiences and interactions with police and can influence trust, perceived

legitimacy, and future cooperation. Limited research has examined public

perceptions of police in small island developing states. This article explores public

perceptions of police in Fiji, an island state in the Pacific region. This study employed

a mixed-method approach based on qualitative interviews (n = 21) and quantitative

surveys (n = 150). The findings show that only a minority of the participants had a

favorable view of police, while the majority had a negative perception. The results

reveal that police corruption and brutality are two significant concerns of the

public that the Fiji Police Force will need to address to gain public respect, trust,

confidence, and legitimacy.

Keywords

police, public perception, trust, legitimacy, police brutality

Introduction

Public1 perceptions of the police depend on the historical police–community relations

and people’s experience and treatment by police (Brogden, 1987, 2005; Jauregui,

2013). On the one hand, the public’s positive perceptions of the police play an essen-

tial role in gaining legitimacy, trust, support, and public willingness to cooperate with

the police (Howes et al., 2021; Jauregui, 2013; Watson, Boateng, & Miles-Johnson,

2021). On the contrary, a negative image of police contributes to people’s distrust and

1The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

Corresponding Author:

Anand Chand, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Email: anand.chand@usp.ac.fj

1096942CCJXXX10.1177/10439862221096942Journal of Contemporary Criminal JusticeQuestionChand et al.

research-article2022

296 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 38(3)

lack of willingness to cooperate with the police (Nair et al., 2012). In the last two

decades, increased public expectations have placed pressure on the police to be more

efficient, effective, accountable, and transparent (Morris, 2015; Nalla & Newman,

2013). There are some key themes commonly discussed in the literature. They are: (a)

people’s experience when interacting with police, (b) police response time, (c) feed-

back by police on people’s complaints, (d) customer service, (e) police brutality, (f)

police corruption, (g) trust in police, (h) procedural justice, and (i) police legitimacy.

There is abundant literature on public perceptions of police in large developed and

developing countries (Ajayi & Longe, 2015; Awan et al., 2019; Boateng, 2012; Dai et

al., 2019; Gau, 2010; Jiang et al., 2012; Lum et al., 2021; Wu, 2009). However, there

is scant literature on public perceptions of police in the context of Small Island

Developing States (SIDS) and particularly in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs; Bull

et al., 2021; Dinnen, 2019; Dinnen & Watson, 2021; Howes et al., 2021; McLeod,

2009; McLeod & Dinnen, 2007; Watson & Dinnen, 2020; Watson, Amin, & Pino,

2021; Watson, Boateng, & Miles-Johnson, 2021, Watson, Sousa-Santos, & Howes,

2021; Watson & Johnson, 2020). In the context of Fiji, only one study 25 years ago by

Plange (1996) empirically investigated people’s perceptions of policing in Fiji; how-

ever, its findings are no longer relevant for the current period. Hence, there is a research

gap in the body of knowledge. The study addresses the research question and contrib-

utes some knowledge on Fijians view of police in Fiji.

Theoretical Framework

The policing model of Fiji is underpinned by Robert Peel’s (1829) principles of policing.

Peel (1829) developed nine principles of professional policing, and two of his principles

forbid police to use excessive force to achieve procedural justice2 and police legitimacy

(Heaton & Tong, 2017; Loader, 2016; Murphy, 2009; Peel, 1829). Peel (1829) argued

that if people perceive police have treated them fairly, they are more likely to trust and

respect them (Heaton & Tong, 2017; Johnson et al., 2014). The Peelian (1929) model of

policing was adopted in Fiji by respective Commissioners of Police since colonial days

(the 1930s–1970s) and postindependence (1970–present) alongside the paramilitary

policing approach after the 1987 military coup (S. B. Brown, 1998, Interview with Nair

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Police Head Quarters, Suva, Fiji, January 2022). Most

of the Commissioners of Police and senior police executives have attended police train-

ing courses in the United Kingdom (at the Police Staff College in Bramshil), Australia

and New Zealand (for relevant courses), and in the United States/Hawaii for cybercrime

courses. (Interview with Nair Deputy Commissioner of Police, Police Head Quarters,

Suva, Fiji, January 2022).

Historical Colonial Background of Fiji and Police Force

To understand policing in any country, we must look at the broader historical develop-

ment of a country and the colonial dimension of policing (Brogden, 1987). Policing