A “comprehensive review” is to be made of a report that backed the creation of a sex offender registry, the Attorney-General said yesterday.

Kathy Lynn Simmons applauded the “arduous task” completed by a House of Assembly Joint Select Committee on the management of sex offenders.

Ms Simmons said the review would “identify and advance those recommendations that underpin the policy objectives and direction of the Government with regard to sex offenders”.

She was speaking after MPs unanimously approved the report’s recommendations after debate in the House early on Saturday morning.

The committee recommended the introduction of a register of sex offenders with individuals categorised in line with the seriousness of their offence.

The JSC report also called for mandatory treatment for sex offenders, and proposed that effective counselling and support is provided to all victims and their families, regardless of their financial means.

Ms Simmons said the Government was committed to making sure the public — particularity child victims — were protected from criminals reoffending.

She said the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ policy team had worked with police and government agencies to propose amendments to the Criminal Code “that will ensure that the sex offender legislative regime supports the protection of the public”.

Ms Simmons said that the proposed amendments fulfilled a Throne Speech promise.

She added: “In summary, the proposed new measures will ensure that offenders are tracked and supervised and that appropriate notice is given to selected members of the public upon the release of offenders back into the community.”

Ms Simmons said that under the present sex offenders’ notification requirements, information was compiled by the Bermuda Police Service for law enforcement purposes.

She added: “It is proposed that a formalised electronic register be maintained by the Ministry of Legal Affairs to provide comprehensive and current data on sex offenders to facilitate more targeted notification to members of the public.

“We have carefully crafted the information to be contained in this register which will outline more demographic information as well as characteristics of each offender listed.”

Ms Simmons said the information would be updated as needed.

She added: “On the anniversary of the offender’s registration period, he or she will have to re-register at least annually, and more regularly as may be mandated. At present, it is not intended that members of the public will have access to the information contained in the register.”

Ms Simmons said the problem of sex offenders “inability or unwillingness” to participate in treatment programmes would be dealt with through legislation.

She added: “In particular, it is proposed that offenders who fail to complete court-ordered programmes at sentencing, or programmes included in their case plan during their period of incarceration, will not be released on parole or on their earliest release date until the programmes are completed.”

Ms Simmons said a team made up of police officers, prison officers and Court Services would also be created to oversee offender management.

She added: “The new proposals will make available an array of responses to offenders from arrest through to conviction and post-custodial interventions.

“The establishment of the team offers more protection to the public and will allow these offenders to be called in for assessments when there is indication or reasonable inference that their risks to reoffend are elevated.”

Ms Simmons said the legal changes struck the right balance between protecting the public, providing information and rehabilitating offenders.