tougher sentencing, a women's group said yesterday.

The Protect Our Women's Safety organisation (POWS) called for a judicial review on sentencing for sex crimes.

And it also pressed for a special board be formed to review prisoners considered for day-release work programmes.

POWS, who are remaining anonymous at this point, spoke out yesterday following Government's recent announcement of a full-scale review of the prison system.

The investigation comes amid growing public anxiety over the day-release system.

Complaints have been made about prisoners in Dockyard wandering about unguarded, being drunk and abusive, and also congregating with girls.

Part of the review will focus on day-release programmes, which have been temporarily suspended.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness this week revealed moves to reclassify prisoners eligible for the programmes, both supervised and unsupervised.

A key change could be barring prisoners locked up for serious violent crimes -- including rape -- from unsupervised programmes.

Previously such offenders had been considered for them on a "case by case'' basis.

Mr. Edness, however, has expressed total confidence in the programmes, which are designed to train inmates for work.

"I hope they will start up again soon,'' he said.

Yesterday POWS backed the inquiry into the day-release programmes and "other problems within the prisons that threaten the safety of women.'' In a statement the group said: "Such an inquiry is long overdue, and we believe that the allegations of the lack of discipline and supervision of prisoners involved in day-release need to be carefully examined.'' The group demanded the resignation of Prisons Commissioner Mr. Milton Pringle, or any other staff members, if they were found negligent.

It also called for a judicial inquiry to review sentences handed down on men found guilty of sexual offences against women and children.

"We believe the sentences have been too lenient to date, and call for corporal punishment to be included as part of the sentence.

"A special board of women and men needs to be appointed to regularly review the prisoners being considered for day-release as well as those who have been given the privilege.'' The group added: "We want Bermuda to be a better place for everyone, a place where people, particularly women, do not feel threatened and afraid.''