An increase in reports of child abuse could be the result of introducing new laws to protect children, according to a Canadian expert "I haven't had a chance to look at the statistics here -- but it's fair to say that when new legislation comes in... it's not unusual to have an increase in reporting,'' social work expert George Savoury told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"And with work in the community, and even with children, you tend to see the statistics increase.'' Mr. Savoury -- Director of Child Welfare in Nova Scotia -- was speaking after he was drafted into Bermuda to help set the framework for the new Children Act passed last year.

He said: "The whole area of prevention has become a greater priority for us in our Province and I see a lot of efforts here to try and prevent child abuse.

"The whole thrust is to support families and help them where they need support to be good parents.'' He added: "In many ways, it's placed the whole area of children's services higher on the agenda.'' But both he and Glenda Edwards, of Child and Family Services, steered well clear of a row over controversial statements by ex-Police surgeon Dr. Valerie James over the castration of sex offenders and licences for child bearing to prevent teenage pregnancies.

Mr. Savoury said he backed the Island approach of health education and birth control.

But he added that -- even with the best programmes -- teenage pregnancies would still occur and young mothers would need help.

Mr. Savoury said: "We believe that you have to do a better job in enabling them to be successful -- finishing school so that individual can do well in society.'' And he appeared to suggest that a licence to bear children was unworkable.

Mr. Savoury said: "People make that comment -- I'm not so sure it's easy to enforce and whether any society, organisation or group have ever thought out what that really means.'' Mr. Savoury added that it could take to the end of the year -- or even longer -- before all the needed rules to accompany the Act are in place.

Mr. Savoury will help the Island's Child and Family Services workers with the implications of the new Act and assist with setting up a fresh set of regulations.

The Act -- passed nearly a year ago -- is aimed at cracking down on the abuse of children, whether sexual, physical or mental.

It makes it mandatory for professionals who suspect child abuse to report their fears to social workers.

And the Act also makes provision for a special register of people convicted of child abuse so applicants for jobs with youngsters can be checked out.

In addition, the Act created prison sentences of up to six months and fines of up to $3,000 for anyone who abuses, neglects or abandons a child.

Mr. Savoury said his role was to work with special sub-committees to identify what needed to be done to give the Act a full set of teeth.

He said: "For the child abuse register, regulations will have to be developed.

"For mandatory reporting, there will have to be training and some regulations so people understand this Act has a mandatory requirement to report child abuse.'' He added: "The community will be looking at what specific programmes and specific public awareness will be needed around the whole issue of child abuse.

"Some things will take some time and will be worked on after the Act actually comes into effect.''