of repeat sex attackers.

But Police and judges must show more interest in Government's treatment plans.

That was the blunt message yesterday from Dr. Bill Marshall, director of a Canadian prison scheme for sex offenders.

He said treatment overseas had enjoyed amazing success, with Canada's recidivism rate plunging from 35 to 10 percent.

And a United States study had shown the number of repeat offenders plummeting even more.

Dr. Marshall was sure Bermuda's scheme could prove even better, setting an example to the rest of the world.

But it needed a massive Island-wide effort to bring this about.

Dr. Marshall, director of an Ontario sexual behaviour clinic and professor at Queen's University, expressed dismay at the reaction of Police and judges to Bermuda's proposals.

For example, they had failed to attend his seminar last Saturday on sex offenders' treatment, he said.

In contrast, prison staff and mental health groups had turned up to the meeting at the Princess Hotel.

"Police and judges play a key role, and it's just too bad if they can't learn about the subject,'' he said. "They had a responsibility to show up to the seminar, but did not do so.'' Dr. Marshall, also director of a Canadian penitentiary institutional programme for sex offenders, was invited here by Ms Sheelagh Cooper, who helped form the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

He has been working with prison staff, including Commissioner Mr. Ed Dyer, helping to design a treatment programme for sex offenders.

Prison staff also plan to visit him in Ontario to gain further tips.

The scheme should be in place for the new $40 million prison, due to open near the end of the year.

The Australian native, now a Canadian citizen, heaped praise on Mr. Dyer and Ms Cooper, who funded his six-day visit.

"Bermuda is very lucky to have these two people. I've been immensely impressed by them.'' Dr. Marshall explained there were three steps to the scheme.

Sex offenders would be put on a programme at prison, before graduating to the prison farm, or somwhere with minimum security, he said.

They would then be moved to a "half-way house'' to help integrate them into the community.

"It is important when in the community for them to be hooked to a programme where they can be treated or monitored,'' Dr. Marshall said.

"Because Bermuda is so small it will be far easier here to follow up former sex offenders. That is what makes me so optimistic about Bermuda's programme.

You could have one of the best models in the world.'' Dr. Marshall said most offenders could expect at least a year of treatment, depending on their prison sentence.

Treatment would mainly involve group therapy -- offenders talking about their problems to each other, the reasons for them, and how to control impulses.

"Very often the best way for offenders to change their behaviour is to speak to each other,'' he said.

Dr. Marshall, who has helped set up programmes in Britain, Austrailia, New Zealand, and the United States, said child molesters could be reformed.

Treatment had proved successful in changing the "age preferences'' of offenders.

"Very often someone commits offences against children because he has difficulty forming an adult relationship,'' he said.

Dr. Marshall had little time for two main arguments against treatment -- the cost, and offenders should be locked up and the key thrown away.

"The fact is the key is never thrown away. Sooner or later offenders come out of prison. I don't believe treatment is an alternative to prison. They should both go together.

"But the best way to protect society is to treat offenders. It is also the less costly way,'' he said. "If a sex attacker reoffends it is much more expensive to investigate a new offence, and put him through the criminal justice system again.'' Mr. Bill Marshall.