Crime in Kiribati

Alcohol-related offences are reported as the most common common-crime category in Kiribati's long-term planning material, at about 30 percent of recorded common crime. Violence, sexual offences and domestic violence are also significant concerns. Domestic violence is a separate criminal matter under the Te Rau N Te Mwenga Act 2014, also called the Family Peace Act. It covers physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, as well as stalking through telephone, text message or other electronic means. Rape is a criminal offence and can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Underreporting remains a concern because of stigma, taboos and pressure to resolve incidents through family or community reconciliation. A 2010 survey found that 68 percent of ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 reported physical or sexual partner violence at some point in their lives, but this is not a current nationwide prevalence figure. The Kiribati Police Service, usually called KPS, is the national civilian police service. It works on law and order, crime prevention and detection, and protection of people and property. Its functions include criminal investigation, community policing, traffic policing, maritime policing, financial intelligence, national intelligence, transnational crime work, criminal records and fingerprints, cybercrime, and domestic-violence and sexual-offence work. The Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit coordinates gender-based violence cases. KPS also uses community policing and public-awareness activities, including work connected with Strengthening Peaceful Villages. For an immediate threat, call KPS on 188. Current non-emergency contacts include +686 75126188, +686 75126190 and +686 74026187. KPS headquarters is at Takoronga in Betio, and stations operate in places including Betio, Bairiki, Bikenibeu and Bonriki. The police website may not always be available, so a telephone call or direct visit to a station is often the more reliable contact method. Older government or disaster-management documents list 192 or 992 for police, but the current KPS information gives priority to 188. When reporting, ask for a police report, request English interpretation if needed, and preserve clothing, messages, electronic devices and other possible evidence. Forensic evidence can be lost quickly. No confirmed standard fee for making a criminal report has been identified. A person facing domestic violence can seek a Police Safety Order when police have reasonable grounds to believe protection is needed. It takes effect immediately and can last for up to 14 days. A breach can lead to custody, and the matter should generally reach the Magistrate's Court within 24 hours. The court can issue an Emergency Protection Order on the same day for up to 28 days, a Temporary Protection Order for up to 90 days, or a Final Protection Order without a fixed end date. An application can be supported by the affected person, a family member, guardian or friend, social-welfare worker, counsellor, community or women's-interest worker, legal practitioner, health-care provider, school head or police officer. Applications may be made orally, in writing, by telephone, radio, text message or email. The Magistrate's Court can be approached near the person's home, workplace or the place where the incident occurred. The law provides for information about court proceedings, legal assistance, appeals, shelter, medical care and counselling. Where sufficient evidence exists, the legal framework directs prosecution rather than treating reconciliation or withdrawal of a charge as the police objective. Victims can contact the Kiribati Women and Children Support Centre, known as KWCSC, for free and confidential counselling, legal information, case management and referrals. SafeNet is a national network linking government and non-government frontline services. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, or MHMS, provides a domestic-violence and sexual-offence clinic at the main hospital in Tarawa. KPS describes a 24-hour hotline function for sexual violence and domestic abuse, but a separate current special number has not been verified beyond the current police contacts. Shelters are documented in Tarawa and Kiritimati. Medical, forensic and shelter capacity is more limited outside the main centres, so outer-island travel, communication and referral arrangements may delay assistance and can create additional costs. Digital crime is covered by the Cybercrime Act 2021 and investigated through the KPS Cybercrime Unit. Offences include unauthorised access or interception, damage to data or systems, use of crime tools or stolen passwords, forged data, child sexual-abuse material, child solicitation, unauthorised disclosure of information, exposure of intimate images, and coercive, intimidating or harassing electronic communication. Electronic evidence may be preserved, and the law provides for search, seizure, traffic-data collection and interception subject to safeguards and court orders. The cybercrime contact listed for international cooperation is police.cybercrime@kiribati.gov.ki and +686 74026187. Kiribati's accession to the Convention on Cybercrime is recorded for 2026, but current nationwide digital-crime prevalence and case figures have not been verified. Children and young people may be dealt with through child-protection referrals, community diversion or conferencing involving police, social welfare, family and customary or community leaders. The Children, Young People and Family Welfare Act 2013, the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and KPS procedures for handling young people provide the relevant framework. Possible measures include supervision, community work, education, vocational training and reintegration. Available figures are incomplete: recorded cases include 42 child cases in South Tarawa from January to October 2019, 154 juvenile cases in 2020, 118 young people from January to October 2022, and 70 from January to November 2023. The 2022 figure included many minor traffic and underage-drinking cases, but these figures cannot be treated as complete national totals. Youth crime is closely connected in practice with alcohol, traffic, family and community circumstances. For everyday safety, move away from an immediate threat, seek a safe place and avoid confronting a dangerous person alone. After sexual violence, contact KPS and medical or victim-support services as soon as possible while avoiding actions that could destroy evidence. Community safety risks can be more concentrated in densely populated areas such as South Tarawa and Betio, while distance, transport and limited resources affect access on outer islands. There is no reliable current national offence breakdown covering all islands, and no evidence of a fully comprehensive victim-support and shelter system operating simultaneously across the country. General digital or consumer-protection questions fall outside this crime coverage unless they concern a suspected criminal act.