A Solomon Islands community which was forced to end public whippings for wrongdoing reports there has been a surge in crime.
At a forum with police and justice officials in Choiseul Province, the villagers have discussed how their traditional whipping practice conflicted with the national law.
The whipping was exposed in the media in March, but a community leader said public drunkenness, sexual abuse and theft had dropped off when whipping was introduced .
Offenders were made to sit in the meeting house in front of 2,000 villagers to undergo their whipping, adults receiving 24 lashes and children half that.
Public Solicitor Ken Averre says community leaders felt they were in a difficult position because the whipping had helped keep order.
Mr Averre said the community now understands that national law takes precedence over customary practice.
