Former UBP Women's Affairs spokeswoman Kim Young believes more can be done to stop paedophiles re-offending.

Ms Young tried to tighten up the law when the Criminal Code Amendment Act No. 2, which allows judges to place supervision orders on sex offenders, was passed in the House of Assembly in 2001 but is disappointed that even in its weakened form it has not been yet invoked in Bermuda.

“There was to be a national sex offenders register held by the director of family services,” Ms Young told The Royal Gazette. “Those people who deal with children would have had the ability to inspect this register.

“There was also the provision that stated that the Minister may notify the public as to whereabouts of repeat violent sexual predators.

“We tried to campaign for the law to say the Minister should notify the public. But as it is not even a supervision order has yet been issued - and that is not good enough. I think Government could be doing more on this.”

In Saturday's Royal Gazette, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser called for future repeat offenders to be put under supervision orders, as legislated for in the Amendment Act passed in 2001, but also revealed that no paedophile had yet been placed under such an order on the Island.

When asked to explain why this was the case, he responded by stating: “When there is new legislation introduced it often takes some time before everyone becomes aware of it and its uses.”

But Ms Young feels that this is unacceptable,

“This is just an excuse,” she said. “It is all very well having these things put down in law. But putting it on paper is not action.

“And this Government needs to be seen to be taking action again repeat sex offenders.

“The community needs to know who these people are and where they are living. We need a sex offenders' register in Bermuda. Even supervision orders lasting up to ten years are not good enough.

“In my opinion, until there is evidence that methods have been developed to change these individuals' behaviour, there should be indefinite monitoring.

“There is little evidence that even at the end of ten years the offender's behaviour will cease, they will just be ten years older. But at least the amendment was a step in the right direction.

“It was unfortunate that the protocols were not included with the bill for discussion, but it was stressed by me that these sexual predators should also be given notice that they are not to live, work, or socialise in areas that are geared towards children, such as schools, nursery schools or libraries - anywhere that children gather.”

She suggests that Bermuda should follow protocols that were introduced in Britain which allow police to warn people when a convicted paedophile moves into their area. A similar scheme is currently in operation in Texas and a number of other states in the US.

“In other countries stronger legislation, such as Megan's law in the US, have been introduced following one particularly horrific case involving extreme abuse against a child,” she added.

“The same seems to have happened in the UK. In Bermuda, we don't want to wait until something horrific happens here until we change the law again.

“The Government should be pro-active on this issue which is of such great concern to parent and the community in general.”