Bermuda's lack of a sex offender's register is putting children at risk, claims a Texas-based Islander.

Felicia Garnett, who has worked with abused youngsters in her role with a state office in the US, believes the country needs to "get with the programme" when it comes to protecting the public from repeat offenders.

The 33-year-old, who was born in Bermuda and still has family here including a number of some young cousins, has received mail from the Police informing her when paedophiles have moved into her Texas neighbourhood and her children have come home from school in Houston with letters warning about sex offenders in the area.

The Royal Gazette printed an appeal this week by the mother of an abused child calling for the urgent introduction of a sex offenders' register on the Island.

The Department of Public Prosecution responded by saying that it would not be needed as supervision orders could be passed by the courts ensuring offenders would have to report their change of address or name to the Police while the Minister for Public Safety has the legal option to inform individuals or groups of the whereabouts of an offender if they are felt to be a significant threat.

And she believes Bermuda should adopt similar tactics in the fight against sexual abuse of minors, with the setting up of a paedophile's register a must.

"Bermuda needs to get with the programme," she told The Royal Gazette. "I must say that I am appalled to learn that there isn't a register there. "I am a Bermudian residing abroad in Texas and it is a state law here and in many other states within the United States, that sex offenders register with their local police station upon conviction or release from prison, depending on the sentence.

"This goes for all sex offenders regardless of age. The register maintains the name of the offender and area the offender resides although exact addresses are not provided.

"If a sex offender moves into a new community or within the community, the community is notified by public notice."

In her home state of Texas there is a website which gives details of offenders, including photos and all the aliases they use, and some use as many as ten, as well as their addresses and the details of the offences they have committed. "This register keeps the community informed," continued Ms Garnett, who has three children herself, aged 13, ten and five.

"Once an individual is convicted of a crime, they lose all rights of a citizen, therefore their right to privacy is not an issue.

"The rights of the community should take precedence. Our children are our future and we must protect them and by keeping the community informed of such miscreants, we are protecting our children.

"Sex offenders generally have been abused at some point in their life, which causes them to repeat the action. I have worked with sexually abused children and this has proven to be the case in most instances.

"By maintaining a register, it is a start to stopping the cycle of abuse. From my knowledge of Bermuda, we are not a hostile country, therefore vigilantism would not be an issue. We are a peaceful people and keeping the community informed keeps the peace ongoing."