The police in Tonga are denying reports that the army has been deployed to help offset a shortage of police officers.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta
Tongan media have reported that soldiers were deployed to patrol Nuku'alofa on Friday after a spate of recent brawls.
Kaniva reported that it would be a regular sight on weekends in the CBD in the lead-up to Christmas.
But a police spokesperson said that wasn't true, and soldiers and police were conducting a tsunami preparedness drill.
They said the military had no authority to conduct domestic duties unless it's a state of emergency.
