The annual police operation for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays will start on December 23, to prevent crimes and ensure public safety during the holidays.

Acting Commissioner of Police Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said today, the operation aims to reinforce effective police service and ensure everyone including visitors are safe while celebrating the festive season in Tonga.

The operation will see police visibility strengthened with a round the clock police on the beat, regular police patrols to key target areas, removal of drunks from public places, and holding liquor licensees to account, when licence conditions are breached. 

Police will continue to target drug dealers “because it has no place in our community as it destroys the lives of the users and harm our children and our communities.”

She reiterated the importance of road safety especially around the holiday season.

Road safety measures will be implemented through planned spot checks and alcohol breath-testing in strategic locations to prevent further crashes on our roads due to drunk driving and speed.

"Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, we rely on everyone to make good decisions on the road to prevent further road trauma by avoiding alcohol and checking your speed.” 

In addition, criminal behaviour would not be tolerated and Police will be holding people to account for their disorderly behaviour. 

The Acting Commissioner, said this is an operation to prevent crime and protect the public, and if the public find someone is behaving suspiciously, being disorderly and drinking alcohol when they are clearly underage, they wanted to hear about it.

She acknowledged the commitment of police staff who will work throughout the holidays. A total of 279 police staff will be deployed during the Christmas and New Year Operation, which runs until January 6, 2020.

At the same time, Tonga Police encouraged members of the public to contact them if they are concerned about the behaviour of people in their communities.