Australia: Police considers chemical castration for child sex offenders

Australian state police taskforce is contemplating using anti-libido drugs on child sex offenders as an alternative to prison. According to Justice Minister Troy Grant of New South Wales, the move is aimed at protecting child sex offenders from repeating the abuse, which in most cases is a common occurrence.

"One of the worrying statistics that came out of our investigation is that up to 17 per cent of child sex offenders are likely to reoffend in two years," said Grant, reported The Independent. "We must do everything possible to reduce that figure."

Critics however, believe the practice that is already taking place on a voluntary basis in the state's prison system, is not an effective solution to tackle a complex issue, like child sex abuse. "The issues are much larger ... there are personality issues, there are issues involved with a range of self-esteem issues as well," said Brett Collins from Justice Action, a local activist group. They have to be dealt with in more difficult ways — learning ways of diversion and avoidance, and also dealing with the person as a real person."

Earlier reports emerged that several paedophiles were chemically castrated in UK prisons in 2014. The child sex offenders volunteered to go through the procedure, which is part of a controversial government scheme aimed at preventing reoffending.