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More 'chemical castrations' plan More drug treatment in sex crimes
(about 5 hours later)
Plans to offer more "chemical castrations" to serious sex offenders will be among a raft of measures set to be unveiled by the government. Plans to offer more drug treatments to volunteers who have committed sex offences are being announced by the Home Office.
Increasing provision of libido-reducing treatments forms part of a crackdown on paedophiles, sources told the BBC. The treatment, dubbed "chemical castration", involves the provision of libido-reducing drugs.
The government is also expected to let parents ask for information about people left unsupervised with children. Parents will also be able to ask for information about people left unsupervised with their children.
But after a year-long review, it is to stop short of allowing details of offenders to be more widely available. But after a year-long review, the Home Office has decided not to allow details of offenders to be 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.Convicted paedophiles might also be subjected to lie detector tests if there is a suspicion they are targeting children.
I think we have this notion that all sex offenders want to do bad things all the time. Some of them are desperately struggling with what's going on in their lives, and want help to be stopped Donald Findlater, Lucy Faithfull Foundation
Some of the most persistent sex offenders are already offered drug treatment, but the Home Office says this provision could be increased.
Home Secretary John Reid told BBC News that it will remain a treatment and not a punishment, and offenders will not be forced to sign up to it.
He said: "We're bringing in a whole range of measures which will improve the supervision of those who have been convicted of sexual offences against children; then we will improve the treatment of those same offenders; and then we will enhance the information that we are giving to people other than employers."
'No honour'
Dr Donald Findlater, director of research and development at the child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that some sex offenders would volunteer to take drugs to suppress their sex drives.
"I think we have this notion that all sex offenders want to do bad things all the time. Some of them are desperately struggling with what's going on in their lives, and want help to be stopped.
"Some of them have been very enthusiastic about participating in lie detector tests, and indeed would happily take pills if that will help."
Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting seven years ago, told the BBC that drug treatment should be compulsory.
"You're placing an honour based system on people that have already shown they have absolutely no honour.
"These are people that rape, molest our children, take photographs of what they're doing.
"They've already shown that they are the nastiest, I think the nastiest, people in the world because of what they do to children."
Pilot schemesPilot schemes
The review is expected to recommend that parents, for the first time, could have access to information on convicted paedophiles.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.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.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.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.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.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. A campaign to launch a "Sarah's Law" - a UK version of the legislation - was launched after Sarah Payne's murder in 2000.
'Strained' services'Strained' services
Children's charity NSPCC said moves to lift restrictions on offenders' information need to be well-funded. Children's charity NSPCC said it was pleased there would be no Sarah's Law because it could drive paedophiles underground.
NSPCC said opening up the information on offenders could stretch resources for looking after the 30,000-odd offenders living outside prison. And it warned that 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.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.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.""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.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.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." "I think if it was handled properly, if it's done correctly, we would be able to monitor it ourselves."
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.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. It is believed 90% of child sex abuse is carried out by someone known to the family.