Crime in Vanuatu

The Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) protects life and property, maintains public order, prevents and detects offences, and brings alleged offenders before the courts. Its Criminal Investigations Department (CID) handles investigations, records and exhibits. Specialist units include the Serious Crime Unit, Fraud Unit, Family Protection Unit, Drugs Unit, Forensic Unit and Crime Prevention Unit (CPU). The Professional Standards Unit receives complaints about police conduct. Reported crime patterns include intentional assault, domestic violence, theft, malicious damage to property, threats to kill, criminal trespass, threatening language, illegal drug possession and disorderly or unlawful assembly. The 2023 police data are incomplete: a 2022 cyber-attack affected the police information system, and Torba Province is absent from the published data. Other provincial figures are not fully complete, so they should not be treated as a precise measure of national prevalence. Petty or opportunistic theft, burglary and home break-ins remain practical safety concerns. Sexual harassment and sexual assault can occur. Risk tends to increase after dark, in isolated places, around bars and clubs in Port Vila, at weekends and during periods before or around Easter, Christmas and Independence Day on 30 July. Keep doors, windows, luggage, vehicles, passports and valuables secured. Use ATMs in well-lit, secure places because ATM and card-number theft or fraud has been reported. Avoid walking alone after dark or in isolated areas, and do not resist a robbery. Obtain a police report after an offence, especially when an insurer, bank or other institution may require evidence. Call 111 from Digicel or 1111 from TVL for a police emergency. For non-emergency contact, use 22 222 in Port Vila or 36 222 in Luganville and Santo, or contact a local police post or station. Anyone may report an offence. Police do not need to wait for the victim's statement or complaint before investigating. A witness normally has the statement read back and signs it; request an amended statement if later information or an omitted fact needs to be added. Serious crimes can be reported in person, in writing through an agency, or by telephone when an immediate response is needed. Access and follow-up vary outside the main centres, and no universal police response time has been published. The Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) decides whether prosecution proceeds after police investigation and evidence collection. The OPP Victim Support Service can explain the court process, arrange counselling, record communication needs and concerns, provide case-status information, and help with court familiarisation or attendance. A court summons creates a duty to attend. Tell the police or OPP early about a disability that affects giving evidence so accessibility arrangements can be considered. Police should treat people with respect and dignity. Domestic violence is a crime under the Family Protection Act No. 28 of 2008 and is not treated as a private family matter. The Family Protection Unit (FPU) can refer matters to the Magistrate’s Court for a Family Protection Order. In urgent remote situations, an appointed Authorised Person may issue a Temporary Protection Order where the law permits. Registered Counsellors, community actors and the Vanuatu Women’s Centre (VWC) provide additional support. VWC offers free, confidential counselling for women and children affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or sexual harassment, together with legal advice, referrals and accompaniment to police, court, hospital or CAVAW. Mobile counselling and five provincial counselling centres cover Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Tafea. These services support survivors but do not have police or prosecution powers. Digital offences include unauthorised computer actions, computer-related offences, identity-related crime and cyberstalking. The Cybercrime Act No. 22 of 2021 also addresses electronic evidence, privacy safeguards, police accountability and international cooperation. The Data Protection and Privacy Act No. 13 of 2024, Digital Safety Authority Act No. 15 of 2024, Harmful Digital Communications Act No. 14 of 2024 and Budapest Ratification Act No. 12 of 2024 form part of the newer digital framework. Use the CERT VU incident-reporting tool for a technical cyber incident and follow its advisories; use the VPF for suspected criminal conduct. The Department of Communications and Digital Transformation states that cyber incidents should be reported within 72 hours. The CPU conducts safety awareness with villages, churches, youth groups, schools, chiefs and women’s communities. Prevention also includes neighbourhood watch in Port Vila, environmental improvements at crime hotspots and community or youth projects. School awareness covers years 1–6, 7–12, 13–16 and university ages 17–35, including personal safety and risks at home and school. Police emergency number 1111 is taught in the Pikinini programme. Youth access to police, courts, corrections, chiefs, kastom and community leaders remains fragmented, while referral and penalty practices vary. A 2018 police notice identified ages 17–24 as a prominent offence group, but that historical finding is not directly comparable with current data. The Ministry of Justice and Community Services launched a child-protection database in 2025, and child-sensitive police handling was still developing in 2026. Port Vila and Luganville have the strongest published police contact infrastructure. Outer-island access may depend on local police posts, mobile VWC counselling, CAVAW, community leaders, chiefs, Authorised Persons and Registered Counsellors. Community or kastom assistance can help with support and access, but it does not replace urgent police reporting. Public police and OPP services have no published fee schedule, while VWC support is free. Investigation, prosecution and court timing vary with evidence, location, transport and connectivity.