Should people in jail for sex offences be chemically castrated?

Read time: 4 mins

In brief…

• A new review into the UK’s vastly overcrowded prisons has recommended options for early release for some sexual offenders and an expansion of a chemical castration trial for the most extreme offenders.
• David Gauke, who carried out the review, tells The News Agents that decisions around early release should be considered on a case-by-case basis, rather than setting limits across broad areas of crime.
• He doesn’t believe chemical castration of rapists will work in every instance, because the motive behind some sexual assaults is power, not gratification.

What’s the story?

The UK's prisons are at breaking point. If the government doesn't act, they will be full to capacity by November this year.

In July 2024, several thousand prisoners were released early in order to free up space behind bars – but this was just the tip of the iceberg of the UK's prison population of 88,000, which grows by an average of 3,000 per year.

To address this, more serious measures are needed, with a new review recommending the expansion of a voluntary chemical castration scheme for sex offenders, an end to most sentences under 12 months, a change in guidance around suspended sentences and more funding for the probation service.

Additionally, many criminals behind bars for violent crimes such as domestic violence and sexual offences, could be freed after serving just a third of their sentences.

It is, unsurprisingly, the chemical castration that has grabbed attention and made the headlines.

A trial is already in progress in a small number of prisons in the South West of England, but will be expanded to another two regions, in which chemicals are used to reduce libido and sexual urges in sexual offenders.

The process was previously used in the UK in the 1950s and '60s on gay men when homosexuality was considered a mental illness.

How will early release for sex offenders work?

The review was carried out by former Tory MP David Gauke, and there has been criticism from victims’ groups of recommendations around early release for people imprisoned for sexual or domestic violence charges.

Gauke tell The News Agents that prisoners who have committed the most extreme acts of sexual violence will face a “tougher progression model”, to ensure they are not eligible for early release.

When it comes to these extreme and contentious cases, such as pedophilia, he says he believes it best to assess each case on the severity of the crime and the length of the sentence, rather than imposing rules around much broader terms to describe types of crime.

How will the chemical castration scheme work?

The current trial in the South West of England is voluntary, and Gauke’s report has recommended it be expanded in the same capacity.

However, Shabana Mahmood, Secretary of State for Justice, is believed to be considering making this a mandatory process – as is currently implemented in Poland.

“The government is looking to go further than we have,” Gauke tells Emily Maitlis.

“I would want to see the evidence first. That's my position on that. I certainly don't have a fundamental objection to it.

“I'm not being critical of that, but that's not our recommendation.”

He says this is because many perpetrators of the worst acts of sexual violence do so through a dangerous need for power, rather than any sense of gratification, so therefore reducing libido or sexual desire would be unlikely to affect the chance of re-offending.

What are Gauke’s goals for prison reform?

Gauke says the Labour government found themselves in such a difficult position when it came to power in July 2024, he believes they now have no alternative to taking action.

“They had no choice but to undertake an early release scheme – but that is very far from ideal,” he says.

“You want to do this in a planned, organised way, with a good lead-in time, so that prisoners can be prepared, victims can be informed that everything is set up and organized.”

The lack of support for prisoners after their release has been widely discussed for decades, with consequential governments doing little to address the situation.

Gauke repeats calls for this to be improved.

"If you just open the cell doors and there hasn't been any preparation for it, in terms of accommodation, potential employment, they're homeless, they don't have any resources, and they are very likely to fall back into very bad habits," he adds.

He calls for the government to not only address the “capacity crisis”, but also reduce reoffending and crime.

"I hope we can move into a virtuous circle. We're in a bit of a vicious circle at the moment."

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