18/03/2012 Sunday Politics East Midlands

In the East Midlands: should we chemically castrate sex offenders?

After a protest in our cities, is its highly found more sites for

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1898 seconds

The idea of chemical castration sounds awfully intrusive. Are you

on the side of the offender? don't think it's an either or

situation. There are around 100 offenders receiving it. Around one

in ten are receiving something that could be described as chemical

castration. The vast majority are given chemicals. There are hormonal

drugs. They obliterate the sex drive, they have quite serious

side-effects. Some of the effect would be similar to a sex change.

They could feminise the male body. Osteoporosis can be a side-effect.

Our concern is sex offending, the medical solution is not necessarily

the answer. It is also not about the sex. It is about behaviour and

attitudes. There are programmes in prisons which are the Best and

proven way of tackling sex offending. Is there a danger, if I

can put it that way, if this pilot is seen to be a big success, there

may be a clamour that politicians may find hard to resist? That would

be very concerning. The law takes away someone's liberty. There would

be an additional punishment. We have concerns. The scheme is

voluntary. There are concerns about how voluntary it really is. You may

feel under pressure, potentially, I'm not saying it is happening, but

if it was rolled out across the country. People could feel pressure

to take part in these kind of test. -- tests, in order to be released.

I don't think that is the Best thing. Thank you very much.

That whole issue about it being the thin end of a disturbing wedge.

That would be rather concerning. I wouldn't want to see that happen.

This is very much on the margins. There must be done with the consent

of the offenders. Prison is as much about rehabilitation as punishment.

Punishment is about being locked up. This is a voluntary, I have spoken

to people, they are describing their own libido and character.

Thank you are much indeed. We will want to know how this pilot

scheme works out. Another issue about which feelings

run high. How do tackle the problems surrounding illegal travel

accounts? Legalising the camps is one answer, if only it was that

simple. Community forum meetings do not

often attract crowds like this. A traveller groups around the agenda,

and fear is filling the hall. know they have to live somewhere,

but please not here. I shudder to think what will happen. House

prices will go down, there will be more trouble in Birstall. What they

are worried about is the prospect of three permanent gypsy and

travellers' site being built by the City Council near their village.

Each side would house a -- Wood House 6-10 families. They would be

at Greengate Lane, B Beaumont away and read your way. The council says

that enough is enough. We have had 90 camps, unauthorised. That is

something that is intolerable for local people. Beefier of another

Dale Farm, the site in Essex, that cost millions to Claire, stalks all

councils. In its wake, the government has set aside �60

million to provide a new permanent site. They say it would be a local

community. The travellers are every bit as scared as the local people.

It makes me feel sad. We have been hears, our children have been to

school there. We have never caused any hassle to anybody. Here in

Derby, they have built a �1.6 million permanent site, following a

seven year wrangling. By all accounts, this is a real success

story. It is well-built, well- appointed, the residents pay

council tax, water rates, and other services. We would like to have

shown you have what it is like, but the residents are so suspicious

about being misrepresented, and they told us we are not welcome.

There is now so much fear and suspicion. Back in Leicestershire,

there is also anger. I think the view of the people are Burstall is,

they are quite upset. -- of Birstall. They are quite upset.

They think it's unfair to have three sides so close to each other.

That was reflected in the meeting that we filmed. Council officials

struggled to be heard. For me, I would say it is blind fear. I have

worked with travellers all across the region, there are only a

handful that caused problems. That percentage is normal for any

section of the community. consultation clock is now ticking,

just six weeks. That will not mark the end of this explosive debate.

You are at Shadow communities minister -- you are the Shadow

Communities Minister. We didn't do enough. We need to provide more

sites. People are so exercised by the prospect of a travellers' site

being established near to where they live, by be a legal incomes

that they see, as he saw in your package, the site in Derby, which

is an official site, run by the council, is extremely well run.

They pay council tax. Actually, it is fitting in very well with the

local environment. If you look at official site, regulated sides,

that is the picture that you will see. The problem is, because local

authorities find it very difficult to deliver aid regulated side. They

have shied away from it. My fear is that the government legislation

will make it more difficult for local authorities. We may see more

illegal income springing up. Isn't that the opposite of what is

happening? More money has been made available for legal sites. Chris

makes some very good points. This is a problem that is always largely

in the imagination. My experiences this. The well-regulated sides that

we have, they work well. There are those who don't choose to live on

those sites. Their reputation travels before them. There is more

money being made available. The legislation is there, the money is

there, it can be made to work. Under the coalition government, is

it possible that the whole issue about travellers' sites is being

pushed to councils? It has always been the local authorities decision.

The travellers' site in Derby was originally envisaged in any event.

I hope that what the government is doing well lead to properly

regulated site being provided where they are needed. The fear is bear.

People view traveller sites as unlawful. If you are a political

group, you won't have time to implemented before the election

comes along. -- implement it. Briefly, is there an issue that the

least people are talking about this? I think people running scared

of this in the past. -- I think people were running scared of this

in the past. I'm optimistic. Would you think the future is, in terms

of legal travellers' sites, the money is there, to think it would

be so hard to set up? -- de think it won't be so hard to set up?

think where it is a political hot potato, where it can be an

advantage to oppose it, it can be tricky in those circumstances to

deliver the site that is needed. Time for our round-up of the

political stories in 60 seconds. Derby's planning committee has

given the go-ahead for a �20 million a Velodrome and concert

venue near Pride Park. The council hopes to sell the naming rights.

The Burton MP has pleaded that the Chancellor to spare a thought for

East Midlands beer drinkers. Will he take his Treasury colleagues

south Arabia and tell them not to put up the duty on the great

British pint? Derby councillors looks set to proceed with

controversial cuts to voluntary groups in the city.

Finally, a mother says she is outraged after her son was strip-

searched by the police. Officers were told that police were carrying

drugs in their underwear. Two boys were arrested and released on bail.

Do you understand about mothers out rage? -- tu understand that a

mother's outrage? I understand totally. The police say they

followed the guidelines totally. can't imagine the police got it

wrong. I would like to hear their account. Your view of this? I think

they did. I think they were unnecessarily heavy-handed. Drugs

are a menace, and the need to address that that schools. I think

the police went to be too far -- went a bit too far. There are ways

to do this without strip-searched in them. Particularly without their

parents' knowledge. They could have notified the parents. They say they

notified the parents, it might have tipped the children off to the

wrong doing. I think the way they handled this has alienated the

police. I have the greatest respect for Derbyshire Police. I know the

Chief Constable. They acted within the guidelines, but maybe the

guidelines are wrong. They need to take account into the situation.

brief update at patients at Rampton Hospital. -- a brief update on

patients. They are still getting disability allowance. I simply

don't understand why patients in hospital getting this form support.

Please believe me, I will still go back to ask questions. -- are not

getting the support. This argument is going round and round. It seems

to be it bouncing back and four. -- 4th back and forth. We come back to

talk about this? I hope not. I'll talk to the government about this.