UK chancellor considers mandating chemical castration for serious sex offenders

Time of India

23-05-2025

Lord high chancellor of Great Britain, Shabana Mahmood is considering introducing mandatory chemical castration for the most dangerous sex offenders in England and Wales, United Kingdom.
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According to government sources, the proposal is part of a broader effort to address prison overcrowding and reform the criminal justice system.
Justice secretary exploring mandatory chemical castration for some sex offenders
Chemical castration involves the use of drugs to reduce sexual urges. These drugs include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) that reduces intrusive sexual thoughts and anti-androgens that lowers testosterone levels.
Currently, the programme is voluntary, but Mahmood is looking at whether it could be made compulsory for high-risk offenders.
A pilot programme using these drugs began in 2022 in south-west England and is due to end next year. Officials are planning to expand the trial to 20 more regions before considering a national rollout.
The proposal is part of recommendations made by former conservative justice secretary David Gauke. He suggested that the government should gather more evidence on the effectiveness of these drugs and study the application in countries like Germany, Denmark and Poland.
Mahmood is expected to address the issue in Parliament this week. At the end of March 2025, sexual offences made up to 21 per cent of all adult prison sentences, as reported by the Guardian.
Gauke recommended that short prison sentences of under 12 months should be used only in rare cases. Instead, courts should have more options, like longer suspended sentences, delayed sentencing for low-risk offenders, and greater use of fines or bans (such as travel or driving restrictions).
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To support victims, expand courts that deal with domestic abuse and increase the use of electronic tags for those who commit violence against women and girls. It also calls for better training for judges and legal professionals on these issues. Additionally, change the statutory purpose of sentencing so judges and magistrates must consider protecting victims as much as they consider punishment and rehabilitation when passing sentences.
He warned that these reforms will only succeed with more funding including expanding the availability of electronic monitoring equipment like tags.
The Conservative Party has strongly criticised Gauke's recommendations. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said, 'By scrapping short prison sentences Starmer is effectively decriminalising crimes like burglary, theft and assault. This is a gift to criminals who will be free to offend with impunity,' as reported by the Guardian.