There is one rape reported every hour in London, according to police data published on Friday. Almost 8,800 cases were handled in 2023, which is an average of 24 each day.
The figures, obtained by state broadcaster the BBC through Freedom of Information requests, show a further 11,000 reports of other sexual offences.
The totals increased by 14% over the last five years to almost 20,000 in 2023, which means that sexual violence or rape was reported to police every 26 and a half minutes, on average.
Charities concerned with protecting children and women against sexual violence said the true extent of such incidents is far higher.
The London-based Rape Crisis center has branded the findings “horrifying,” telling the BBC that “urgent change is needed.”
The charity claims only one in six women who are raped report the crime. Among male victims that figure is said to be one in five. Only one in four will report other types of sexual assault.
Shockingly, the police statistics also reveal that over 4,300 children reported being a victim of rape or sexual assault in 2023.
Explaining a sharp increase in abuse by under-18s, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, Ian Critchley, said in February that a rise in sexual assaults on children by other children could be attributed to a “toxic” online culture, such as violent pornography.
Police and officials also attribute the increase to more frequent reporting of offences. Charges for sexual crimes have risen significantly in recent years, according to the statistics. There were 818 charges in 2018, falling to 800 the following year, but steadily rising since to over 1,400 in 2023.
In August, the UK Home Office said rape offences that led to a charge took the longest time to probe – about 423 days on average. This is compared with 55 days for ‘violence against the person’ offences and 28 days for theft.
Following a series of high-profile incidents of violence against women by serving London Metropolitan Police Officers, the issue of public confidence in policing has received greater attention. Only four out of ten people in England say they trust the police, with the British capital’s cops getting the lowest score, a survey suggested in April. A total of 657 Metropolitan Police officers were under investigation for sexual abuse, domestic abuse, or a combination of both last year.