Shabana Mahmood, the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, is considering requiring the most perilous sex criminals in England and Wales to undergo substance sterilization. The plan is a part of a larger effort to combat prison crowding and reform the criminal justice system, according to authorities sources.
Chemical sterilization involves the use of medications to lessen sexual urges. These medications include anti-androgens that lower testosterone levels and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ( SSRIs ) that lessen intrusive sexual thoughts. The program is currently deliberate, but Mahmood is considering whether it should be made mandatory for high-risk offenders. South-west England’s first captain program involving these substances was launched in 2022, and it will come to an end in 2024. Before considering a regional implementation, leaders intend to expand the test to 20 more areas. The suggestion is a result of recommendations made by former traditional justice minister David Gauke. He suggested that the government conduct research into the use of these medications and conduct an analysis of their applications in nations like Germany, Denmark, and Poland. This year, Mahmood is scheduled to address the issue in Parliament. Physical offenses accounted for 21 % of all adult prison sentences at the end of March 2025, according to the Guardian. Gauke advised that only in exceptional circumstances may small prison sentences of less than 12 months be used. Instead, judges should have more options, such as more suspended sentences for low-risk criminals and a greater use of fines or bans ( such as driving or traveling restrictions ). To help subjects, expand the number of domestic abuse judges and use more electronic keywords for those who abuse women and girls. Additionally, it calls for better education for legal professionals and magistrates on these subjects. Change the purpose of sentencing according to the law so that judges and magistrates must take into account sufferers ‘ protection in addition to abuse and treatment when issuing sentences. He warned that more money, including expanding the use of digital surveillance equipment like tags, will be needed to support these reforms. Gauke’s comments have received strong criticism from the Conservative Party. Robert Jenrick, the head of Shadow Justice, stated that Starmer’s removal of small prison sentences properly decriminalizes crimes like burglaries, theft, and assault. This is a surprise to thieves who will be free to commit crimes with impunity, according to the Guardian.
