A pilot scheme to chemically castrate certain sex offenders will be rolled out at 20 prisons, the Justice Secretary has said.

The Government is further exploring whether to make chemical castration mandatory for certain sex offenders.

Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood said: “The review has recommended we continue a pilot of so-called medication to manage problematic sexual arousal.

“I will go further with a national rollout, beginning in two regions covering 20 prisons. And I am exploring whether mandating the approach is possible.

“Of course, it is vital that this approach is taken alongside psychological interventions that target other causes of offending, like asserting power and control.”

Recommendations by the Independent Sentencing Review to continue a small voluntary pilot in the Southwest have been rejected as too soft. Instead, it will be expanded to 20 prisons in England and Wales ahead of a planned roll-out nationwide.

However, Ms Mahmood wants to go further and is exploring the feasibility of compulsory chemical castration.

Allies highlighted how US states such as California have castration as a mandatory condition for jailed sex offenders freed on parole.