The federal government is considering changes that would automatically add sex offenders to the national sex offenders registry.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said Tuesday in Ottawa the government is consulting with the police, provinces and victims groups on making the registry work better.

The database, maintained by the RCMP, is intended to help police investigate crimes of a sexual nature by providing vital information on convicted sex offenders.

Currently, the Crown can apply to the court for an offender registration order once someone is convicted of a sex offence.

Critics, however, say the registry is incomplete, access to the information is too tightly controlled, and that it doesn't do enough to help police prevent new offences.

The Commons public safety committee is reviewing the registry.