Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering plans to allow mandatory chemical castration for the most serious sex offenders, such as paedophiles and rapists, it has been reported.
The justice department is said to be considering rolling out a pilot to 20 prisons across England and Wales as part of a package of “radical” measures aimed at reforming the system.
On Wednesday Mahmood warned of having to make “stark choices” in relation to prison reform to ensure a criminal justice system “worthy of the name”.
The measure is among a number she is expected to make after recommendations set out in a review by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke.
His paper, due to be published on Thursday, is exploring options to hand offenders tougher punishments outside prison, while making sure there is space to jail the most dangerous criminals.
A current pilot in the southwest of England has been using chemical castration on 34 individuals with their consent.
But Mahmood is said to be exploring whether chemical castration could be made mandatory, instead of voluntary, for the most serious offenders, several newspapers reported, citing government sources.
Such a move would be controversial and require a major overhaul of legal and medical convention.
The Sun quoted an unnamed Government source as saying: “For too long, we have turned a blind eye to the threat sex offenders pose, considering the solutions too difficult or unpalatable.
“Shabana isn’t squeamish about doing what it takes to protect the public.”
Drugs to suppress invasive thoughts and libido can cut reoffending rates by up to 60 per cent, research highlighted by Ministry of Justice said.
Chemical castration uses two drugs — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which limit invasive sexual thoughts, and anti-androgens, which reduce testosterone and limit libido.
Offenders are often used in conjunction with psychiatric sessions.
Currently, chemical castration is mandatory in Poland, Russia and some US states.
Other changes the Government could consider include allowing well-behaved prisoners to be released after serving only a third of their sentences and ending jail terms for offenders sentenced to less than one year in prison.
Such offenders will reportedly serve community sentences, which could involve filling potholes and clearing fly-tipping areas.
The Times reported the Government is talking to private companies about a scheme that would employ criminals but reduce their wages and donate the money to victims.
Latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures published on Monday show the number of inmates in jails has risen by 2,485 since 30 December.
It comes as the Government announced further emergency plans to release some criminals on recall earlier to free up around 1,400 prison places.
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