Fiji's CCTV expansion faces scrutiny over lack of national policy

Fiji's Parliament is questioning the government's approach to expanding its CCTV network, particularly after another $400,000 was allocated for surveillance cameras. The debate has highlighted significant concerns over the absence of a unified national policy to guide the installation, monitoring, and privacy protection associated with the growing number of cameras.

Opposition MP Premila Kumar brought the issue to the fore during the debate on the 2026-2027 Appropriation Bill. She pointed out that various agencies, municipal councils, communities, and even private households are installing cameras independently. Kumar argued that this fragmented approach lacks a single policy for the use, monitoring, and management of CCTV footage, contrasting it with global practices where a central agency often oversees monitoring to address privacy concerns.

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But the rest of the world are also moving in the same direction to keep our cities and towns safe but they do have a national policy on CCTV camera so that the privacy matter is addressed and anyone who installs CCTV camera, it is monitored by a central agency.Not like everyone monitoring their own CCTV cameras.

Police Minister Ioane Naivalurua acknowledged the police have a plan for CCTV expansion, with initial installations completed in the Suva-Nausori corridor and the Western Division slated for the next phase. He emphasized collaboration with communities, stating that the police work with local initiatives to connect their monitoring devices to a central system, assuring a coordinated plan is in place. However, when pressed on the existence of a national policy for privacy issues, Naivalurua admitted he had not seen one and that it was an area requiring development.

Separately, Kumar also raised concerns about delays in DNA testing for major fire investigations, noting that some samples are sent overseas. She questioned Fiji's capacity to strengthen its local capabilities to reduce waiting times. Naivalurua responded that while Fiji conducts local DNA testing, it relies on New Zealand and Australia for more complex cases.

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Within the community, we work with the community. If there are initiatives by the community to install their own monitoring devices, we work with them to be able to connect to our central monitoring devices. But there is a well-coordinated plan for those, Honorable Member.