Crime in Nauru

The NPF is also referred to as the Naoero Police Force. Its published responsibilities include crime prevention and investigation, arrests, community safety and protection of life and property. Its local specialist functions cover domestic violence, drugs, cybercrime, assault, theft, forensic work and other investigations. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary and Australian Federal Police cooperation support criminal cases and investigations. Official travel advice assesses crime in Nauru as generally low for travellers. Petty crime, pickpocketing and purse snatching can still occur, and people should secure passports, money, vehicles and accommodation, take extra care after dark and remember that Nauru has no public transport or regular taxis. Domestic violence and assault require separate attention because their impact is serious even when general travel-crime indicators are low. A reported 34% increase in asset recovery or disruption was attributed to the NPF, but the available information does not identify the period or comparison basis. Older figures should not be treated as current national rates: NPF records for 2019 included 67 domestic assaults, four indecent assaults and one rape, while an older survey found that 48.1% of women had experienced partner violence and 68% had not approached formal services or authorities. The figures indicate likely under-reporting rather than a complete measurement of crime. Call 110 for an emergency police report. Anonymous reports can be made on 119 from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 17:00. The Crimes Unit can be reached on 557 2979, and the Professional Standards Unit can receive confidential complaints on 557 2982. No general police-reporting fee is publicly documented in the available information. A reporter can ask for a police report, request interpretation where needed, and may be asked to give a statement, identify a person or provide evidence as a witness. After sexual or physical violence, reporting as soon as possible can preserve investigative options. Keep clothing, messages, photographs and other possible evidence, and avoid altering or discarding items that may be examined. A male or female officer cannot necessarily be guaranteed. Medical and forensic capacity in Nauru is limited, so treatment or examination may sometimes require care in a neighbouring country. Patients may need to pay medical costs and should keep receipts and check insurance coverage. HIV post-exposure medication and emergency contraception can be time-critical within 72 hours. Support may involve the domestic violence unit, WASDA, the Safe House, Nauru Medical Centre, the Mental Health Unit, the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The available evidence supports coordinated assistance for vulnerable witnesses, but it does not establish a general right to a free lawyer for crime victims. The Public Legal Defender mainly assists defendants and accused people, court-assigned cases and other eligible legal proceedings. The Child Protection Unit has operated since 2014 under the Child Protection and Welfare Act 2016. It assesses violence, neglect, exploitation, bullying and cyberbullying and can coordinate case planning, counselling, education, medical referrals and court support with the police and domestic violence services. A 2023 survey found violent discipline affecting 81% of children aged 1 to 14; this is a child-protection indicator, not a police crime rate. The minimum age of criminal responsibility is a boundary with criminal law: it is 10, and for children aged 10 to 14 a prosecution must establish that the child understood the conduct was wrong. The NPF has a cybercrime function, and the Cyber Crime Act 2015 criminalises child sexual material and online transmission. No separate public cybercrime reporting portal or specialist victim hotline is reliably documented, so suspected online offences should be reported through 110, 119 or the Crimes Unit. Police education through Radio Nauru and Nauruan-language community activity supports prevention, alongside neighbourhood cooperation, intelligence-led investigations and measures intended to reduce reoffending.