A pilot scheme for chemical castration of sex offenders is to be expanded to prisons in the North West and North East of England
Making the announcement at the start of a debate on the second reading of the Sentencing Bill, the Lord Chancellor David Lammy told MPs a trial in south-west England had been “positive”.
“While the evidence base is limited, it is positive and for that reason we will roll the approach out nationwide, starting with two new regions, the North West and North East, covering up to 20 prisons.”
Lammy said that he will also consider whether to make chemical castration drugs mandatory for sex offenders under plans inherited from Shabana Mahmood, his predecessor.
The expansion will mean that 6,400 sex offenders will be able to access medicine alongside psychological treatment to help change their behaviour and reduce their risk of committing further offences such as rape, grooming and sexual assault.
