Anyone who doubts that Bermuda has a problem with sexual addiction need only look at the jobs which are lost to it as workers caught accessing porn on office terminals are sacked.

In 2001, a probe into Internet usage unearthed the fact that 570 Government workers visited pornographic websites in one two-week period alone.

The statistics were revealed in a confidential memo sent by Government E-commerce consultant Nigel Hickson to Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb.

It led to the installation of blocking software costing thousands of dollars.

Dr. Wells Hively, of Ashton Associates, says: “Inappropriate use of the office computer for porn is a near national problem as is the telephone for phone sex. It can cost thousands of dollars a month.”

Bermuda Employer's Council executive director Andrea Mowbray said: “I have noticed an increase in calls to me for Internet policies to be put in employee handbooks stating computers are company property and the time is owned by the company.

“What our policy says is the company reserves the right to monitor access to see how much time is being used. Any porn being used is subject to instant dismissal.

“I have heard a couple of companies say there is an awful lot of porn being used within the companies.

“I have heard of cases where there are a few people doing a lot of it and groups sending pictures back and forth.

“In a couple of cases, female staff members have been harassed because they have been sent pictures unsolicited. They don't like it or want it.”

To counter the porn threat companies are investing thousands of dollars in filtering systems and monitoring systems.