In the UK, there was an 11% increase in police recorded sexual offences in the past year compared to the previous year, largely due to improvements in police recording practices.
Yet, according to the Daily Mail, the number of rape victims pulling out of prosecutions has reached an all-time high.
Policy Advisor at The Survivors Trust, Lucy Duckworth, said: “I think that some victims do not want to report offences or be involved in prosecutions because they are seeing the trauma of reporting.
“Of the 15% of offences that are reported, only 1.6% will result in a prosecution. This isn’t a system that needs reforming, but rather one that simply isn’t working and isn’t delivering for victims.”
How We Can Help You Claim Compensation
If you’ve been subjected to sexual violence or assault and would like to enquire about making a compensation claim for the distress and harm caused, we can help.
Our team of specialist solicitors understand the delicate nature of these cases. They understand the issues and do all they can to remove any stress from your shoulders. Your confidentiality will be respected at all times, and they’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
To reach out to us today, you can call our free helpline on 03330918597 or write to us about your case here.
How We Conducted Our Research Into Sexual Offences
We sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to UK police forces, asking how many rape and sexual offences have been reported to the force in the last three years. (Broken down by years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25)
We also asked if these figures could be broken down by type of offence and location where the offence occurred. (Broken down by years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25)
Avon and Somerset
No. of reported sexual offences – Avon and Somerset
- 2022/23 – 5,245
- 2023/24 – 6,155
- 2024/25 – 7,652
Sexual offence locations – Avon and Somerset
Bedfordshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Bedfordshire
- 2022/23 – 1,721
- 2023/24 – 1,727
- 2024/25 – 2,178
Sexual offence locations – Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Cambridgeshire
- 2022/23 – 2,657
- 2023/24 – 2,434
- 2024/25 – 2,805
Sexual offences locations – Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Cheshire
- 2022/23 – 3,686
- 2023/24 – 3,706
- 2024/25 – 4,059
Types of reported sexual offences – Cheshire
Cleveland
No. of reported sexual offences – Cleveland
- 2022/23 – 2,651
- 2023/24 – 2,511
- 2024/25 – 2,764
Sexual offence locations – Cleveland
Cumbria
No. of reported sexual offences – Cumbria
- 2022/23 – 1,680
- 2023/24 – 1,553
- 2024/25 – 1,776
Sexual offence locations – Cumbria
Derbyshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Derbyshire
- 2022/23 – 3,561
- 2023/24 – 3,353
- 2024/25 – 3,909
Types of reported sexual offences – Derbyshire
Devon and Cornwall
No. of reported sexual offences – Devon & Cornwall
- 2022/23 – 5,475
- 2023/24 – 5,869
- 2024/25 – 7,033
Sexual offence locations – Devon & Cornwall
Dorset
No. of reported sexual offences – Dorset
- 2022/23 – 2,376
- 2023/24 – 2,210
- 2024/25 – 2,282
Sexual offence locations – Dorset
Durham
No. of reported sexual offences – Durham
- 2022/23 – 2,260
- 2023/24 – 2,293
- 2024/25 – 2,352
Types of reported sexual offences – Durham
Dyfed-Powys
No. of reported sexual offences – Dyfed-Powys
- 2022/23 – 1,751
- 2023/24 – 1,495
- 2024/25 – 1,666
Sexual offences locations – Dyfed-Powys
Essex
No. of reported sexual offences – Essex
- 2022/23 – 6,104
- 2023/24 – 5,098
- 2024/25 – 5,424
Sexual offences locations – Essex
Greater Manchester
No. of reported sexual offences – Greater Manchester
- 2022/23 – 11,649
- 2023/24 – 11,298
- 2024/25 – 12,135
Sexual offences locations – Greater Manchester
Gwent
No. of reported sexual offences – Gwent
- 2022/23 – 1,816
- 2023/24 – 1,689
- 2024/25 – 2,262
Sexual offence locations – Gwent
Hertfordshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Hertfordshire
- 2022/23 – 2,553
- 2023/24 – 2,469
- 2024/25 – 2,907
Sexual offence locations – Hertfordshire
Kent
No. of reported sexual offences – Kent
- 2022/23 – 6,224
- 2023/24 – 5,802
- 2024/25 – 6,268
Sexual offence locations – Kent
Lancashire
No. of reported sexual offences – Lancashire
- 2022/23 – 4,887
- 2023/24 – 4,882
- 2024/25 – 5,682
Sexual offence locations – Lancashire
Leicestershire
No. of reported sexual offences – Leicestershire
- 2022/23 – 3,936
- 2023/24 – 3,636
- 2024/25 – 3,917
Types of reported sexual offences – Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Lincolnshire
- 2022/23 – 2,703
- 2023/24 – 2,635
- 2024/25 – 2,988
Sexual offence locations – Lincolnshire
Merseyside
No. of reported sexual offences – Merseyside
- 2022/23 – 4,554
- 2023/24 – 4,012
- 2024/25 – 4,642
Sexual offence locations – Merseyside
London
No. of reported sexual offences – London
- 2022/23 – 24,825
- 2023/24 – 24,121
- 2024/25 – 26,481
Norfolk
No. of reported sexual offences – Norfolk
- 2022/23 – 3,375
- 2023/24 – 3,090
- 2024/25 – 3,365
Types of reported sexual offences – Norfolk
North Wales
No. of reported sexual offences – North Wales
- 2022/23 – 983
- 2023/24 – 951
- 2024/25 – 1,015
Types of reported sexual offences – North Wales
North Yorkshire
No. of reported sexual offences – North Yorkshire
- 2022 – 1,909
- 2023 – 1,660
- 2024 – 1,510
Sexual offences locations – North Yorkshire
Northumbria
No. of reported sexual offences – Northumbria
- 2022/23 – 5,046
- 2023/24 – 5,041
- 2024/25 – 5,626
Sexual offences locations – Northumbria
Nottinghamshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Nottinghamshire
- 2022/23 – 3,665
- 2023/24 – 3,542
- 2024/25 – 3,977
Sexual offence locations – Nottinghamshire
South Wales
No. of reported sexual offences – South Wales
- 2022/23 – 3,771
- 2023/24 – 4,016
- 2024/25 – 4,342
Sexual offence locations – South Wales
South Yorkshire
No. of reported sexual offences – South Yorkshire
- 2022/23 – 4,408
- 2023/24 – 4,368
- 2024/25 – 5,194
Sexual offence locations – South Yorkshire
Suffolk
No. of reported sexual offences – Suffolk
- 2022/23 – 2,759
- 2023/24 – 2,449
- 2024/25 – 2,536
Types of reported sexual offences – Suffolk
Surrey
No. of reported sexual offences – Surrey
- 2022/23 – 2,637
- 2023/24 – 2,608
- 2024/25 – 2,891
Types of reported sexual offences – Surrey
Sussex
No. of reported sexual offences – Sussex
- 2022/23 – 5,251
- 2023/24 – 5,429
- 2024/25 – 5,866
Sexual offence locations – Sussex
Thames Valley
No. of reported sexual offences – Thames Valley
- 2022/23 – 6,431
- 2023/24 – 6,178
- 2024/25 – 6,900
West Mercia
No. of reported sexual offences – West Mercia
- 2022/23 – 4,057
- 2023/24 – 3,517
- 2024/25 – 3,736
Sexual offence locations – West Mercia
West Midlands
No. of reported sexual offences – West Midlands
- 2022/23 – 10,321
- 2023/24 – 10,689
- 2024/25 – 11,628
Sexual offence locations – West Midlands
West Yorkshire
No. of reported sexual offences – West Yorkshire
- 2022/23 – 9,513
- 2023/24 – 9,368
- 2024/25 – 10,873
Sexual offence locations – West Yorkshire
Wiltshire
No. of reported sexual offences – Wiltshire
- 2022/23 – 1,952
- 2023/24 – 1,928
- 2024/25 – 2,120
Types of reported sexual offence – Wiltshire
PSNI (Northern Ireland)
No. of reported sexual offences – Northern Ireland
- 2022/23 – 4,235
- 2023/24 – 4,058
- 2024/25 – 4,165
