A law to keep tabs on released sex offenders will finally become law today.

The Criminal Code Amendment Act, passed in June 2000, will allow authorities to notify groups, individuals or the public about the release of sex offenders who are a risk to the public.

Its implementation had been put back a month while the probation service, prison authorities and judiciary gear up for the change.

Critics have said the law is too soft. Campaigner Gina Cardell told The Royal Gazette recently: "It empowers the minister to inform the community when a sex offender is released. But it does not require the minister to do so," she said.

"We want that changed because we have a right to know in order to protect our children."

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said it was wise to keep an element of discretion in the law.

She said: "It depends on the nature of the crime; it's not one shoe fits all.

She said the Act, which is similar to Megan's Law in America which notifies communities when a convicted sex offender was living among them, was a big move forward.

Megan Kanka was murdered in New Jersey by a paroled sex offender in the early 1990s and the law requires all people with sex convictions to report where they are living.

Ms Cox said of Bermuda's new law: "It will be reassuring that we now have the ability to deal with the sexual offenders and also the violent offenders."

The amendment will allow offenders out early on parole if they have agreed to supervision. The act requires offenders to be assessed before sentencing.

If they are deemed likely to re-offend the court must impose a sentence of not less than three years and make an order that the offender must be supervised for up to 10 years after their release.

Such offenders must notify the police of their home address within three days of their release and again should their circumstances change.

Failure to comply with the supervision order carries a penalty of 10 years.