First Woman Assistant Commissioner Appointed to Lead Police Internal Affairs

The former head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Loraini Seru, has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and will now lead the Fiji Police Force’s Internal Affairs and Professional Standards Unit.

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu confirmed the appointment, stating that the decision was based on the recommendation of a promotion board comprising both internal and external members to ensure that appointments remain merit-based.

Commissioner Tudravu said ACP Seru is the first woman officer to be confirmed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, describing the milestone as an achievement that will inspire women officers and young girls aspiring to join the policing profession.

He emphasised that while policies are in place to support the advancement of women within law enforcement, all appointments and promotions will continue to be based on merit. He also encouraged women officers to take up opportunities presented to them.

ACP Seru, who hails from Tonia village in Tailevu with maternal links to Rewasa in Rakiraki, Ra, joined the Fiji Police Force in 1995. She has served in both the Western and Central Divisions before later joining CID Headquarters in Toorak.

She is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy in the United States and was the first officer seconded to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption from 2006 to 2010. She later undertook a two-year tour of duty in Liberia.

In 2020, ACP Seru was appointed Deputy Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Women Advisory Network and was awarded Policewoman of the Year at the 2022 Fiji Police Women Excellence Awards.

She has also completed professional training with the Australian Institute of Police Management in Sydney and attended Anti-Money Laundering and Fraud training programmes in Korea and New Zealand.

ACP Seru said the Fiji Police Force provides many opportunities for growth and encouraged fellow women officers to pursue roles traditionally dominated by men.