Paedophiles and rapists are to be offered “chemical castration” on the NHS under a pioneering project being developed in Scotland.

{mosimage}The Scotsman has learned high-risk sex offenders in Edinburgh will be considered for drugs that reduce their libido when they are freed from prison.

The initiative is the brainchild of Dr Raj Darjee, a consultant forensic psychiatrist in Edinburgh, who believes drugs can play an important role in managing dangerous sexual predators once they are released into the community.

He said there was clear evidence that the use of anti-libidinous drugs could limit the chances of a paedophile or rapist striking again. “I think we can offer something that will reduce the risk,” he said. “If clinical treatment reduces the number of victims from 20 to ten, that’s got to be a good thing.”

He went on: “When high-risk offenders are released into the community in Edinburgh, from the courts or from prison, criminal justice agencies can refer them to us.

The purpose is for a psychiatric assessment to help the police and social work manage the risk. Part of that assessment will be to consider the use of medication.”

The psychiatric assessment and the use of medication would require the consent of the offender.

Last month, John Reid, the former home secretary, announced that the use of chemical castration – currently used in very few cases – would be expanded for sex offenders south of the Border.

A catalogue of concerns raised by NHS staff including aggression from managers, overcrowded buildings and low morale are detailed in a leaked report.

Social care staff in Glasgow are due to discuss what steps to take in a dispute with the city council over job-grading. Strike action planned for Monday was postponed until Unison union officials could meet with workers.