The United Kingdom will launch a pilot program to administer chemical castration to certain sex offenders as part of a broader strategy to reduce reoffending rates and alleviate pressure on the prison system, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced Thursday.
Under the new initiative, injectable medications that suppress libido will be offered alongside psychological treatment in 20 prisons across two regions. The goal is to cut recidivism among sex offenders by up to 60%, according to government estimates.
Mahmood told Parliament the government is assessing the feasibility of using chemical castration as a sentencing tool.
“It is vital that this approach is implemented in tandem with psychological interventions that address deeper issues, such as the need for power and control,” she said. “If our prisons collapse, the justice system breaks down — courts suspend trials, police stop making arrests, crimes go unpunished, and order gives way to chaos.”
Similar methods have been introduced in other European nations, including voluntary programs in Germany and Denmark, and mandatory application in Poland for some offenders.
The measure is one element of a sweeping package of sentencing reforms aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. Additional proposals include ending most custodial sentences of less than 12 months — with exceptions for offenses such as domestic violence — as well as expanding early release programs and deporting foreign nationals serving sentences of three years or less.
The government also plans to invest £700 million (approximately $930 million) annually in probation services, in an effort to strengthen alternatives to incarceration and improve rehabilitation outcomes.
The prison population in England and Wales has nearly doubled over the past three decades to almost 90,000, despite a decline in overall crime rates. The rise is largely attributed to longer sentences and a growing backlog in the courts.
Critics have voiced concern that eliminating short sentences may weaken enforcement for crimes such as burglary and assault, and question the reliability of electronic monitoring as a substitute for incarceration.
The reforms follow recommendations from a comprehensive review led by former Attorney General David Gauke, who warned that without sufficient investment in probation, efforts to reduce reoffending could falter.
“If the government doesn’t put the necessary resources into probation, we won’t achieve the rehabilitation gains we need,” Gauke said. “And the public could lose confidence in the system.”
The Ministry of Justice also confirmed plans to expand the prison estate, replacing outdated facilities with modern infrastructure to accommodate long-term demand.
