Violent unrest is on the rise in Alotau, the capital of Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay province.
Additional police are being deployed there to respond to a surge in violence and criminality.
Last week police burnt 17 houses at Alotau's Kitava settlement in their pursuit of criminals who were allegedly behind an armed hold-up.
A local journalist, Neville Togarewa, explained to Johnny Blades what happened from there.
Police cordon off streets in Alotau in response to a suspected hostage situation that turned out to be a false alarm. Monday 01 August 2016 Photo: RNZI/ Courtesy of Priscilla Waikadi
