The leader of the Cook Islands Party wants a return to traditional ways of disciplining young people to curb crime.
Henry Puna told the Cook Island News the crime rate in Rarotonga is shameful and he's embarrassed the government hasn't made any noise about it.
Mr Puna, who's campaigning ahead of next week's elections, says traditional and church leaders could be consulted to deal with the problem.
He says crime rings are involving parents to get their children to commit crime.
The paper reports the Cook Islands Party has pledged to remove some of the immunities juveniles have in the court system.
