again, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said yesteday.

But she added that new regulations to keep tabs on released criminals in the most dangerous categories would cut the chances of further offences.

Ms Cox said: "Nothing is going to reduce the risk to zero. But imposing long periods of supervision proves more effective than prison terms.'' Ms Cox added Government had moved to track sex and violent offenders for up to ten years amid fears in the community.

She said: "For some time there has been concern in our community about our inability to monitor and control convicted sex offenders when they're released from prison.'' And she pledged that those who will carry out court-ordered assesments of sex offenders before sentencing would receive training to international standards.

Ms Cox added: "I believe this to be important legislation which is long overdue. The public, particularly women in the community, have a right to be protected from those who would prey on their vulnerability.'' UBP Paget East MP Kim Young said her party supported the bill but felt it needed to be strengthened in certain areas.

She pointed to Ms Cox's statement that specialists would be brought in to carry out monitoring of offenders placed in the programme and asked what the bill was doing in the House.

See Monday's Royal Gazette for more from the House of Assembly