Pilot chemical castration for sex offenders to expand to 20 prisons as justice secretary considers mandate
The UK government will expand its voluntary chemical castration pilot for sex offenders from a handful of prisons to 20 across England, the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced. The move follows recommendations from an independent sentencing review seeking alternatives to ease prison overcrowding and reduce reoffending.
Currently limited to a small programme in south-west England, the trial involves administering hormonal drugs alongside psychiatric therapy to sex offenders who suffer compulsive and intrusive sexual thoughts. The drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and anti-androgens, work by reducing libido and sexual drive, aiming to lower the risk of reoffending.
Mahmood indicated she is also exploring the possibility of making chemical castration mandatory for some offenders, but has not set a timeline for this decision. However, experts and human rights advocates caution that forced treatment raises serious ethical concerns and is unlikely to gain medical support.
Forensic psychiatrist Professor Don Grubin warned that mandating chemical castration would be “very unethical,” stressing most doctors would resist compulsory treatment. He noted the approach must remain voluntary and part of a wider rehabilitation programme that addresses the psychological causes of offending, such as power and control dynamics.
The pilot’s expansion aims to build a stronger evidence base to understand how effective the treatment is and to explore funding for its continuation. The independent sentencing review, led by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, recommended this cautious extension as part of a broader effort to find “every tool at our disposal that can cut reoffending.”
The chemical castration programme has existed in various forms since 2007, initially piloted at HMP Whatton and later extended to six prisons in 2016. The latest 2022 pilot added five more prisons in the south-west. Under this treatment, prisoners may become eligible for early release after serving one-third of their sentence.
Gauke’s report noted that sexual offences account for 21% of adults serving immediate custodial sentences, underlining the urgent need for effective interventions. However, it also warned that chemical castration should never be used as a standalone treatment or purely as a risk management tool, emphasising its suitability only for a limited subset of offenders.
Internationally, chemical castration is used on a voluntary basis in countries such as Germany and Denmark, while Poland enforces it mandatorily for some offenders. The review highlights the importance of understanding the ethical and legal implications and securing informed consent, a key principle in English and Welsh medical law.
Evidence on chemical castration’s effectiveness, while limited, shows promise. One study found no reoffending among ten treated offenders, and another reported reoffending rates 60% lower in chemically castrated offenders compared to untreated ones. Prof Grubin stressed that while the treatment lowers sexual drive—a major factor in sexual offending—the long-term impact on reoffending remains difficult to prove due to ethical and logistical constraints.
The Liberal Democrats’ justice spokesperson, Josh Babarind, urged full transparency of data from ongoing pilots to enable proper scrutiny of the intervention’s success and safety.
Despite opposition from some political quarters to parts of Gauke’s broader sentencing proposals, Mahmood stated she was “not squeamish about taking these further measures” and pledged to push ahead with expanding the pilot.
As the government navigates this controversial path, it continues to emphasise the need for chemical castration to be delivered alongside psychological treatment, reflecting a holistic approach to tackling sexual offending.
THE GUARDIAN
Leading experts have condemned proposals for mandatory chemical castration of sex offenders in the UK, calling the idea ethically unsound and legally questionable. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed consideration of compulsory medication to suppress “problematic sexual arousal,” but specialists, including Prof Don Grubin, emphasise that doctors must treat with consent, not as social control agents. Grubin warned that offenders, who are not mentally ill, have the right to refuse treatment. Prof Belinda Winder cautioned that compulsory medication could increase offenders’ aggression and hostility, potentially leading to other crimes. Dr Adarsh Kaul, with over 20 years’ experience, stated he would only treat voluntary patients and refuses to prescribe drugs if coercion is involved. While chemical castration is voluntary in parts of the US and mandated in some countries, Moldova revoked compulsory use following a human rights challenge. Experts fear forced treatment could backfire, undermining rehabilitation efforts and legal safeguards, making mandatory castration unlikely to gain professional or judicial acceptance.
CNN WORLD
The UK government plans to introduce chemical castration for sex offenders in 20 prisons across two regions, aiming to reduce reoffending and ease prison overcrowding. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the treatment would be paired with psychological therapies addressing underlying causes like power and control. While chemical castration won’t suit all offenders, studies suggest it can reduce reoffending by 60%. The move follows an independent sentencing review led by former justice secretary David Gauke, which also recommends scrapping sentences under 12 months (except in serious cases), increasing early releases, and boosting probation funding with £700 million annually. The prison population has doubled to nearly 90,000 over 30 years despite falling crime rates. Mahmood defended the reforms as necessary to prevent the collapse of the justice system, while Conservative critics warn scrapping short sentences risks decriminalising offences. The government is also expanding the prison estate for the first time since the Victorian era to address capacity issues.
THE INDEPENDENT
Chemical castration has been legally available on a voluntary basis in the UK since 2009, with British men choosing it as a treatment to control sexual urges, especially for sex offenders. Historically, it was once misused as a punitive measure against homosexual acts, but today it is regarded as a medical intervention rather than a punishment. Countries like Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, seen as progressive on criminal justice issues, actively use voluntary chemical castration combined with psychological therapy to reduce reoffending. Supporters argue that when chosen freely and paired with counselling, it can effectively help some offenders manage impulses and lower risks. However, the approach remains controversial due to ethical concerns about consent and potential side effects. The voluntary model contrasts with proposals for mandatory chemical castration, which experts warn could be unethical and legally challenged. Zoë Beaty highlights that the success of chemical castration depends on voluntary consent, proper medical oversight, and holistic rehabilitation efforts.
