A top psychologist yesterday backed Government plans to crack down on the risk of rogue practitioners and set up a professional body with wide-ranging powers.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Derrick Binns, head of the National Drug Commission, said the profession was 100 percent behind the plan -- drawn up at the request of psychologists working in Bermuda.

Dr. Binns, who holds a BA, MA and Phd in psychology, added that those who seek the services of psychologists could be vulnerable and a rogue or bogus practitioner could cause enormous damage.

He said: "We want to avoid problems rather than wait for a problem to occur and then try to do something about it.

"This legislation will set up conditions which will make sure problems don't occur.'' He explained: "Given that we are working with the most intimate aspects of peoples' lives, there is potential for abuse to occur.'' And he added the legislation was dual-purpose because it would also reassure the public that the professionals they consult meet high standards.

Dr. Binns said: "It's information for the public on standards. They will be reassured that those on the register are competent or qualified.

"In many ways, that is the purpose of it -- public safety and accurate information on who is legitimate and competent, who is registered and who is not.'' The legislation brings the profession into line with others by proposing a register with a ruling council, with powers to discipline and strike off, if necessary.

The bill -- the Psychological Practitioners' Bill 1998 -- which was placed before the House of Assembly last Friday, also aims to restrict the use of the word "psychologist'' in styles or titles to approved members of the profession.

It will also have the power to check on qualifications, training and experience, as well as general character.

Members of the register would be able to be struck off for professional malpractice or criminal convictions carrying a jail term.

Dr. Binns said psychologists provide a vast range of services to patients.

These include psycho-therapeutic services to help people cope with specific problems and psychological assessments, together with a plan to assist patients.

Counselling, teaching and diagnosis of problems can also be part of the job description.'' Dr. Binns said he did not know why psychologists had to wait so long to have the same sort of governing structure as chartered surveyors, engineers, as well as doctors and lawyers.

But he added that -- when he returned to Bermuda in 1986 -- there were "only a handful'' of psychologists working on the Island and it probably took time for there to be enough professionals to allow a regulating body to be set up.

Dr. Binns said: "People are getting a better appreciation of the services psychologists can provide.

"I also think more people are becoming interested in providing these services -- it's a supply and demand thing.'' Dr. Derrick Binns HEALTH HTH DRUGS DGS