CIVIL libertarians have condemned a decision to keep a self-proclaimed witch and convicted child sex offender in jail after his prison term expired.

His maximum term expired at midnight last night, but the Victorian Government successfully sought an extended supervision order, granted by the Supreme Court, amid fears he had shown signs of re-offending.

After the order was granted, the adult parole board then imposed more than 20 conditions on Fletcher, forcing him to live in a building inside the grounds of Ararat jail in central Victoria.

Liberty Victoria president Brian Walters, SC, spoke out against the use of supervision orders to continue detaining prisoners after their maximum term expired.

Mr Walters rejected the Government's position that Fletcher had been released from prison although he was still being housed under the order on prison grounds.

Police Minister Tim Holding confirmed the Government had sought the order against Fletcher because he continued to pose a risk to the community.

"We know that by securing him within the perimeter .. within the walls of the Ararat prison that we're doing everything we can to protect the community from him," he said.

"He indicated during his time in prison that not only did he see nothing wrong with the offences that he'd committed but also that he essentially planned to commit similar offences when he was released from prison," Mr Holding said.

Asked whether it was appropriate to use the supervision orders – introduced by the Government last year – to detain prisoners after their terms expired, the police minister said the conditions imposed on Fletcher under the order were "appropriate, effective and proportionate".

However, the Government has asked a sentencing advisory council to investigate whether the state needs a new law specifically to allow continued detention of prisoners after their jail term expires.

Fletcher, was due for release earlier this year, but his parole was refused after authorities discovered he had engaged in "disturbing" correspondence with people in Ghana, West Africa.

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