Bermudians in the streets of Hamilton are in favour of lengthy prison sentences and mandatory counselling for sex offenders.

The Royal Gazette yesterday spoke to several shoppers and workers in the city of Hamilton to gauge their feelings on whether counselling should be mandatory for sex criminals and if publishing their identities would deter future crimes.

"Lock them up! They should not be out at all,'' said one woman who asked not to be named. "What do we do, wait until they do it again and then a parent goes out and kills them and gets life in jail?'' The 34-year-old Warwick woman added that if sex offenders are allowed out of prison, publishing their photographs in the media is "all right by me''.

Rhonda Gibbons, of St. George's, disagreed and said only schools, and nurseries should be notified about the release of a sex offender.

"It depends on the seriousness of the offence,'' Ms Gibbons said. "A lot of people commit this type of crime and don't do it again. We would be protecting them and the public as well.'' And Jim Leslie of Sandys agreed that mandatory counselling in the prison system should be implemented.

"I should say so, yes,'' he said. "What good is it doing otherwise. What is the alternative?'' He added: "I don't think publishing their photos is unfair. I think it is a double incentive against the first offence.'' Mr. Leslie explained: "I've just come from an area that was just starting a reporting system and they were actually putting the pictures in their newspaper. It was effective.'' Another lunchtime shopper, Rudy Ford supported the publication of sex offender's photographs.

He said: "If he is not rehabilitated, then he should be remembered. They should have mandatory counselling and no parole.'' Cassandra Smith, of Hamilton Parish, said the sentences given to sex criminals are "not what they should be''.

Ms Smith added: "I know of a case where a guy did only a year after being sentenced to two years.'' "That isn't enough,'' she said. "Not nearly enough.'' When asked what she thought about counselling sex criminals, Maria Louisa retorted: "Or the lack thereof?'' "There really is no reason not to give them counselling,'' Ms Louisa said.

"Give them serious mandatory counselling and treatment.'' She added: "It is a fine line. But you have to think of the welfare of the children.

Another woman, was clear that some criminals are the same and they should have thought about the punishment before committing their crimes.

"Punishing them severely would discourage the crime,'' Deidre Lohland said.

It would set an example out of it.

And Janet Smith wanted more treatment for sexual predators: "You don't do that sort of thing (publish photos upon release) to murderers and other serious criminals. We should see if their lives had improved.'' Shaun Tucker, of Hamilton Parish said he thought sex offenders should not not be eligible for parole for their crimes.

He said: "Whatever time the man gives them, they should just do it. Just like Baretta said: "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time''.

"Yes publish their pictures,'' he added. "The public should know who they are.

Jim Leslie Rudby Ford Janet Smith