More ‘Chemical Castrations’ Plan

Plans to offer more “chemical castrations” to serious sex offenders will be among a raft of measures set to be unveiled by the government. Increasing provision of libido-reducing treatments forms part of a crackdown on paedophiles, sources told the BBC.

The government is also expected to let parents ask for information about people left unsupervised with children. But after a year-long review, it is to stop short of allowing details of offenders to be more widely available.

Some of the most persistent sex offenders are already offered drug treatment, but Home Office sources say the review will propose increasing this provision, the BBC’s Robin Brant reports. But it will remain a treatment and not a punishment, and offenders will not be forced to sign up to it.

Convicted paedophiles might also be subjected to lie detector tests if there is a suspicion they are targeting children. The review is expected to recommend that parents, for the first time, could have access to information on convicted paedophiles. For example, mothers could request a police check if they have concerns about a new boyfriend.

At the moment, employers can request a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check if a potential employee is going to work with children, while private citizens cannot. Three pilot areas are expected to be set up.

Widespread access to details about sex offenders, as seen in the US, has been ruled out by the Home Office. The US law, known as Megan’s Law, named after Megan Kanka, seven, who was killed by a convicted sex offender, gives parents access to names and addresses of known paedophiles.

A campaign to launch a “Sarah’s Law” – a UK version of the legislation – was launched after Sarah Payne was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. Children’s charity NSPCC said moves to lift restrictions on offenders’ information need to be well-funded. NSPCC said opening up the information on offenders could stretch resources for looking after the 30,000-odd offenders living outside prison. It also called for clear guidelines to prevent inappropriate information being released.

Director Dame Mary Marsh said: “We always urge members of the public to report their concerns, but agencies are already struggling to keep track of known offenders in the community. Investigating reports of sexual offences against children, bringing offenders to justice and managing them when released into the community is placing severe strain on agencies.”

However, Steve Bevan, from Survivors Swindon, which helps men who have been sexually abused, said people had had a right to know where sex offenders were living. He told BBC Radio’s Five Live: “We could actually run this quite easily, we’ve just been given another excuse to, that we’re not being trusted to have this information.

“I think if it was handled properly, if it’s done correctly, we would be able to monitor it ourselves. They say they’re going to give us some idea or some way of checking on these people but I think it’ll be minimal.”

A wider publicity campaign will also be promised by the government to remind people that it is not so-called ‘stranger danger’ which is the biggest threat, but people closer to home. It is believed 90% of child sex abuse is carried out by someone known the family.