It is a concern when children start plotting and executing crimes. The incident at a local resort is worrying because three children targeted tourists. This has left a bad mark not only on the hotel but the nation as a whole.

The incident at the Le Uaina Resort involving three pre-teens from a nearby village is not something to brush aside. Over the years, the resort has worked hard to become a popular tourist attraction. Tripadvisor, Expedia, Booking.com and other reputable international travel sites have given it four-star ratings.

It takes one incident as such to put a blemish on that reputation. It took one negative review to paint a bad picture of tourism and the village where these children are from. The resort is definitely not to blame for this incident.

This incident raises questions. Did the children act on their own? Or were they just used because nobody suspects children?

The latter seems to be more plausible. The tourists were followed, they were watched and when the time was right, their items were stolen.

Acting Police Commissioner Papali'i Monalisa Tiai-Keti has confirmed that the suspects are aged nine years, 11, and 12.

The three boys believed to be from the same family residing close to the resort were caught after the incident was reported to the police. Police have recovered some stolen items, including a mobile phone and $1,900 of the $3,000 taken. Unfortunately, the stolen iPad remains missing.

Papali'i expressed concern over the youths' involvement in such a crime, noting, "They're quite young to be involved in this kind of crime."

Even the police believe that these children were being controlled by someone older, by someone who has done this act before. It would be a shame if an older family member is behind this. This is an exploitation of children.

In the same way, young street vendors are exploited by drug dealers to act as runners. It is also criminal for parents to exploit their children by forcing them to sell items. It has come to a point where the children are almost begging for a tala if someone does not buy their products.

For the children who committed these crimes, they need to be offered opportunities to learn from their mistakes and rehabilitate. It would be unwise for the village council to resort to an extreme act of banishment.

These are the types of incidents for village elders to grasp and help improve such children. This is where the church is needed and takes the approach of working with the family. Physical punishment would only stay in their minds for a certain time and in most cases, it would harden them to get involved in more criminal activities.

This raises the question of what happened to the $1,100 the children stole. The money was never returned. Can three children use that much money in a village setting? This is highly suspicious. Let us hope that drugs are not involved in the matter.

The government’s proposed Child Protection Law, sent back for further consultation needs to be worked on faster. There were some provisions that the members of the judiciary had raised concerns about, they need to be ironed out so this law could help in protecting children.

The law is needed to stop the exploitation of children. All children have to be in school instead of selling things on the streets or being used as mules for drug dealers and criminal activities.

The situation involving children is getting from bad to worse. The government needs to explore free education for all primary and secondary school children. If the district grants are to continue, no children should be left at home, their fees and travel to school should be paid for by the grant.

There is a major social problem on our hands and it involves children. Much of it has to do with poverty and accessing education.

Please take the necessary steps now otherwise the problem will continue to get bigger.