Chemical castration piloted in 20 prisons

A TOTAL of 20 prisons are to pilot the chemical castration of sex offenders, the Justice Secretary has said.

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The Government is exploring whether to enforce the chemical castration on offenders as mandatory, Shabana Mahmood told MPs, after recommendations from the independent sentencing review to explore its use further to reduce the risk of reoffending.

The review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis.

It also looked at ways to cut reoffending, with one proposal to consider further use of chemical suppressants, currently being piloted in south-west England.