A new rape is reported every hour in London
charities asserting that the actual number is much higher, as many incidents go unreported to the police.
According to police data released on Friday, there is one reported rape every hour in London. In 2023, authorities handled nearly 8,800 cases, averaging 24 each day.
The figures, obtained by the BBC through Freedom of Information requests, also revealed an additional 11,000 reports of other sexual offenses. Overall, the total number of sexual violence and rape cases reported to police rose by 14% over the past five years, reaching almost 20,000 in 2023. This translates to an incident of sexual violence or rape reported every 26 and a half minutes on average.
Charities focused on protecting children and women from sexual violence warn that the actual number of incidents is likely much higher. The Rape Crisis center in London described the findings as “horrifying,” emphasizing that “urgent change is needed.” The charity estimates that only one in six women who experience rape report the crime, while the figure is one in five for male victims. Additionally, only one in four individuals will report other forms of sexual assault.
Alarmingly, police statistics indicate that over 4,300 children reported being victims of rape or sexual assault in 2023. Ian Critchley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, noted that a rise in sexual assaults on children by their peers could be linked to a “toxic” online culture, including exposure to violent pornography. Authorities attribute the increase in reports to greater awareness and willingness to come forward. The number of charges for sexual crimes has also significantly increased, from 818 in 2018 to over 1,400 in 2023.
In August, the UK Home Office reported that rape offenses leading to charges took the longest to investigate—approximately 423 days on average—compared to 55 days for violent offenses and 28 days for theft.
The issue of public confidence in policing has come under scrutiny following a series of high-profile cases of violence against women involving serving officers from the London Metropolitan Police. A survey conducted in April found that only four out of ten people in England trust the police, with the Metropolitan Police receiving the lowest ratings. Last year, 657 officers from the force were under investigation for sexual or domestic abuse, or both.
