Paedophiles and other sex criminals will be castrated in tough new crackdown to dull their twisted sexual urges
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is looking at plans to make it mandatory.
Studies have shown using drugs to dull sex urges can slash offending by up to 60 per cent.
A Government source said: '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.
'As always, she will grab this problem by the proverbials.'
Recommendations by the Independent Sentencing Review to continue a small voluntary pilot in the South West have been rejected as too soft.
Instead it will be expanded to 20 prisons in England and Wales ahead of a planned roll-out nationwide.
But The Sun understands Ms Mahmood wants to go further and is exploring the feasibility of compulsory chemical castration.
Allies highlighted how US states such as California have castration as a mandatory condition for jailed sex offenders freed on parole.
Paedo chemically castrated begs for injections to end saying 'I'm sorry'
And while ministers would start with jailed offenders, insiders say they will explore broadening the scheme to those given suspended sentences.
It marks a victory for The Sun's Keep Our Kids Safe campaign to protect children against paedos.
Our demands also include mandatory jail sentences for those caught with the worst Category A images.
Many sex offenders currently seek chemical castration proactively.
It is voluntary in Germany, France, Sweden and Denmark.
Ms Mahmood has been won over by various studies, including one showing reoffending rates could be slashed by up to 60 per cent.
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Chemical castration uses two drugs — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to limit invasive sexual thoughts, and anti-androgens to reduce testosterone and limit libido.
Offenders are often given psychiatric sessions to reduce other impulses.
The plan is part of wider efforts to cut reoffending to ease the strain on packed prisons.
Inmates are already being released early to stop jails running out of space by November.
Ex- Tory minister David Gauke's Independent Sentencing Review is expected to urge the increased use of suspended sentences, deportation of more foreign offenders and more community punishments.
He is also expected to recommend extending maximum suspended sentences from two to three years, and release after a third of sentences.
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