Overview

• Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed the scheme will extend from four south‑west prisons to as many as 20 sites across the North West and North East.
• Ministers say the medication is used to curb problematic sexual arousal and will be delivered alongside psychological interventions targeting other drivers of offending.
• The House of Commons passed the Sentencing Bill at second reading, paving the way for an earned‑progression model that could allow some prisoners release after one third of their term if they engage and behave.
• Opponents highlighted the limited evidence, potential side effects, and ethical questions, and warned that stretched probation and tagging systems could compromise implementation and public safety.
• Officials acknowledged gaps in electronic monitoring and will pilot fitting tags before release starting next month to improve continuity and compliance.