Chemical castration or paedophiles and other sex offenders will be piloted in 20 prisons, the Justice Secretary revealed today.

Shabana Mahmood announced the move in the Commons after a sentencing review found the measure was ‘worthwhile’ as a way to reduce reoffending.

Chemical castration is voluntary in Germany, France, Sweden and Denmark, and some sex offenders actively seek it out. 

The process, currently being piloted in south-west England, includes taking two drugs, one to limit sexual thoughts and the other to reduce testosterone and limit libido.

In a statement to the Commons this morning, Ms Mahmood said: ‘The review has recommended we continue a pilot of so-called medication to manage problematic sexual arousal.

‘I will go further with a national rollout, beginning in two regions covering 20 prisons. And I am exploring whether mandating the approach is possible.

‘Of course, it is vital that this approach is taken alongside psychological interventions that target other causes of offending, like asserting power and control.’

The measure was part of a series of proposals from former justice secretary David Gauke to reform sentencing and ease overcrowding in British jails. 

Shabana Mahmood (pictured today) announced the move in the Commons after a sentencing review found the measure was 'worthwhile' as a way to reduce reoffending

Shabana Mahmood (pictured today) announced the move in the Commons after a sentencing review found the measure was ‘worthwhile’ as a way to reduce reoffending

Today, Mr Gauke insisted some paedophiles are ‘desperate to rid themselves of these desires’.

He told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: ‘It is a voluntary arrangement, it is focused on some sexual offenders. 

‘For some, who have sexual desires that they actively want to suppress [paedophiles] for example.’

A poll in February found that more than two-thirds of voters under 30 believed sex offenders should be castrated.

The survey, by Find Out Now, recorded 67 per cent of them as being in favour of chemically castrating sex offenders and just 24 per cent opposed, reflecting the generation’s tough law-and-order attitude. 

In a separate interview, Mr Gauke said not all sexual offenders would be suitable for castration.   

‘One of our recommendations is that we think that we should continue to explore this, this is drugs that reduces sexual desire,’ he told Sky News.

‘It’s not appropriate for every sexual offender, and the evidence base for this does need to be built up.’

‘I’m not going to claim it’s the answer for everything. This is about reducing the risk of reoffending in future.

‘There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires. And if we can explore this, I think that is something that’s worthwhile,’ he said.

Drugs can be used to dull urges and slash offences by nearly two thirds, studied have shown. Pictured: File photo

Drugs can be used to dull urges and slash offences by nearly two thirds, studied have shown. Pictured: File photo

Problematic sexual arousal can be reduced by chemical suppressants and prescribed medication, but the review highlighted the treatment would not be relevant for some sex offenders such as rapists driven by power and control, rather than sexual preoccupation.

Asked if this would be used instead of keeping sex offenders in prison, Mr Gauke said: ‘The point being is at some point almost every prisoner will be released. We have to look across the system at doing everything we can do to minimise the risk of reoffending. You cannot remove that risk altogether.’ 

Earlier this year, Kazakhstan announced the mass chemical castration of 11 paedophiles amid a campaign for the worst offenders to have their genitals surgically removed.

All the men reportedly ‘committed crimes against the sexual inviolability of minors’ in the Kostanay region in the north of the country.

Details were not given of the cases, but the child sex offenders were starting to forcibly receive libido-sapping injections.

Approval was given for the paedophiles to be jabbed 24 times a year at an annual cost of £278 each.

Kazakhstan has some of the toughest laws in the world on paedophiles.

Official information is published on their addresses after release from prison so parents can understand where potential danger is lurking.

Chemical castration being carried out in Kazakhstan (file photo). In the UK the measure would involve taking two drugs

Chemical castration being carried out in Kazakhstan (file photo). In the UK the measure would involve taking two drugs

A nurse conducting the chemical castration of a paedophile in Kazakhstan

A nurse conducting the chemical castration of a paedophile in Kazakhstan 

Elsewhere, Mr Gauke’s review recommended that violent criminals and sexual offenders could be released from prison earlier, while judges could be given more flexibility to impose punishments such as football or driving bans.

Short sentences of less than 12 months would also be scrapped, apart from exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.

It also called for the immediate deportation for foreign nationals handed a three-year sentence or less.

Five key proposals put forward by Mr Gauke are expected to cut the prison population by around 9,800.

Latest figures show the prison population in England and Wales is 88,103, just 418 below the record of 88,521, which was reached on September 6 last year, just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early to ease overcrowding.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick warned that scrapping short sentences would be effectively ‘decriminalising’ offences like burglary, theft and assault.

‘This is a gift to criminals who will be free to offend with impunity,’ he said.

‘If Starmer proceeds with halving sentences for dangerous offenders like killers, rapists and paedophiles that would be a slap in the face for victims.’

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