New laws to protect children from convicted paedophiles are to be brought before Members of Parliament in the coming weeks.

The legislation is expected to address fears over the supervision of sex offenders after release from prison, and could be linked to other initiatives such as alternatives to incarceration and restructing the Treatment of Offenders Board into a parole board.

And victims groups could also have a say in the move, which is expected to come before the House of Assembly by the end of the current session.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox told the House of Assembly on Friday the planned legislation would strike a balance between the need to protect the community and the requirement to supervise the offender without having a negative effect on the offender's rehabilitation.

Responding to a Parliamentary question from Shadow Health Minister Kim Young, Ms. Cox said that preliminary steps had been taken to identify costs of the service.

"For some time now there has been concern in the community about how we monitor and otherwise control the activities of convicted sex offenders once they have completed their sentences,'' said Ms Cox.

"Concern is usually at its highest when high-profile sex offenders are released, when representations are frequently made by various groups and individuals.'' She added that the sex offender initiative would also involve victim advocacy groups, and other Government departments. In addition, the resulting policy would work hand in hand with the "alternatives to incarceration'' project already underway.