Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
Sex offenders in the United Kingdom could now be facing chemical castration under a new plan to cut prison population.
The lead of an independent review into sentencing which could see violent criminals and sexual offenders released from prison earlier recommends exploring chemical castration for sex offenders as a way of reducing reoffending, independent reviewer David Gauke has said.
According to the review, chemical castration 'may assist in management of suitable sex offenders both in prison and in the community'.
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Chemical castration would work by using medication to suppress the sexual drive of sex offenders, and is even currently being offered to such offenders as an option in southwest England.
Ministers are set to announce plans for a nationwide rollout and will first expand the use of the medication to 20 prisons across England.
Additionally, the justice secretary is also considering whether to make castration mandatory, as the process is currently voluntary.
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"One of our recommendations is that we think that we should continue to explore this, this is drugs that reduces sexual desire," Gauke 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," the former justice secretary continued. "This is about reducing the risk of re-offending 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."
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However, the chair stressed that the government needs to focus on 'reducing crime overall'.
When asked if chemical castration would be used instead of keeping sex offenders in prison, he 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."
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The review, which was commissioned by the government amid an overcrowding crisis in prisons in England and Wales, has made a number of recommendations with the aim of reducing the prison population by 9,800 people by 2028.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Rhiannon Ingle