The announcement that Fiji's military is set to assume policing functions is a concerning development for some observers.
The military commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, last week said a task force was being formed where the military would provide a quick response to robberies and other crimes.
Massey University's Anna Powles says the military stepping up to police duties is not new, but it is a blurring of the distinction between the police and military, which has had a checkered past in Fiji.
Dr Powles told Jamie Tahana it also will not do anything to address the problems in the police force that require the support.
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Photo: Massey University