Expert warns on chemical castration

Chemical castration can help some paedophiles but society still has to be "realistic" about its effectiveness, an expert has warned.

Donald Findlater, of child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said the proposed use of the treatment in the UK was a good idea but it would not be relevant for most offenders.

He predicted a "large number" would volunteer but they had to realise it would not stop them being sexually interested in children.

However, drugs could reduce sexual arousal and the intensity of sexual fantasy, he said.

The treatment was this week backed by the Government after research showed the use of certain drugs could reduce further offending.

Offenders would volunteer to take medication to reduce their testosterone levels to those of pre-pubescent boys.

But Mr Findlater said the majority of sex offenders - around 90% - still needed conventional psychological treatments to alter their behaviour.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It certainly is a good idea but people need to be realistic about what we are talking about. This is not an idea that is probably going to be relevant to the majority of sex offenders.

"It is going to be particularly targeted at those where an inability to control sexual urges is a major component in their offending - which is not typical for most sex offenders."

He said what was being proposed was a formalising of an agreed research programme to demonstrate the "utility" of different types of drugs.

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