Refugees on Nauru have been accused by authorities on the island of lying about being assaulted as part of a ploy to get to Australia.
Nauru is home to hundreds of refugees who were processed on Nauru after trying to seek asylum in Australia.
The Police Commissioner Corey Caleb says refugees regularly fabricate allegations of assault and sexual assault as they know these will be publicised.
He says the refugees tell the police they have been assaulted but their stories seldom add up.
Mr Caleb says there is usually no physical evidence, witnesses or details.
The police chief says such allegations would be dismissed in Australia and those making them would be charged with making a false complaint.
Mr Caleb also says police resources are increasingly being allocated to dealing with rising tensions between members of the refugee population.
He says the force receives up to five call-outs a day, which is more than from the entire Nauruan population.
The Justice Minister David Adeang says the false allegations were simply a ploy to get to Australia.