+ Enlarge this image

Jasper Williams Primary School students on the road during their lunch break with placards on road safety. They are concerned with the increasing road death toll.

POLICE have issued a national warning for people to take extra precaution to ensure the safety of themselves and their belongings over the Fiji Day long weekend.

More than 300 police officers will be on duty over the long weekend to help ensure celebrations are safe.

Assistant spokeswoman Prashila Narayan said three major events were occurring over the long weekend, with Fiji Day celebrations all over the country, the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Suva and the Inter-District Championship soccer championship in Ba.

She called on drivers exercise caution on the road when driving long distances and to follow road rules.

Corporal Narayan reminded motorists police would not tolerate drink driving.

And, she warned parents to supervise children their children closely all throughout the long weekend.

West police chief Emori Laqai said 30 officers would be at Govind Park, Ba, for the IDC this weekend,

"We want this to be a quiet weekend and if some people out there want to disturb it, they will face the full brunt of the law,"Senior Superintendent Laqai said.

"We expect spectators to behave within the ambit of the law.

"Those with intent to break the law must think again, as we won't tolerate any misconduct."

He said traffic officers would be on duty throughout the long weekend to ensure no drink drivers escaped prosecution.

"Drivers must not think that since we are busy at the ground, we will not monitor the roads.

"Traffic officers are there full-time to catch those who want to risk this advice,"he said.

North police chief Anand Narayan said police presence was beefed up for the long weekend with a special crackdown on drink drivers, bootleggers, speeding drivers and those manufacturing and selling home-made liquor.

He said each police station had an operation plan, with the number of officers on duty increased.

Superintendent Narayan said police patrols would increase in crime-prone areas and in public places but warned homeowners to take precautions to secure their property and tell neighbours if they were leaving their home vacant for the long weekend.

Back to Top