Can the Minister inform Members why there is a delay in implementing the Jersey Sex Offenders’ Register
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2.1 Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the delay in implementing the Jersey Sex Offenders register:
Can the Minister inform Members why there is a delay in implementing the Jersey Sex Offenders' Register?
Senator W. Kinnard (The Minister for Home Affairs):
The Deputy 's question crossed with an email message I sent to all States Members on 2nd September in which I explained the reasons for a delay in lodging the draft law. To repeat the advice I gave in that message; I had intended to lodge the Draft Sex Offenders' Law in time to enable a debate on 21st October. However, the Minister for Health and Social Services requested a month's delay to ensure a thorough response from his department. There are also some further human rights compliance issues upon which I am awaiting further advice. I make no apology for trying to achieve the original timetable. This is an important piece of new legislation which should be brought forward for debate at the earliest opportunity. Equally, it is important that Members of this House and other key stakeholders should have their views taken fully into account. Therefore, Sir, whereas I am still aiming to lodge the draft legislation during this session, the net effect will be that it will fall to the new States to debate it in the early part of next year.
2.1.1 Deputy D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence :
Will the Minister advise the House the timetable for her to bring forward the proposed Vetting and Barring Legislation which I believe will be working in conjunction with the Sexual Offenders Law?
Senator W. Kinnard:
In fact the Vetting and Barring provisions are not going to be brought into force until, I think, 2010, but what I will be bringing to the House at the very earliest opportunity is a report that I had promised in the last session to bring forward in this session on the issue with rehabilitation of offenders, which will take into account some of those matters. So that will be before the House in very early course.