Official estimates show that more than a million people in England and Wales were victims of sexual offences in the year to March 2022. The figures, obtained from the Crime Survey of

England and Wales, indicate that 1.1 million individuals aged 16 and over were victims of sexual assault during the 12-month period. Of this total, 798,000 were women and 275,000 were men, and attempted offences were also included. The figures also reveal that one in six people, equivalent to 7.9 million, had been a victim of a sex crime at some point in their lives since the age of 16, with 1.9 million having been raped - 7.7 per cent of women and 0.2 per cent of men.

These estimates are higher than the Office for National Statistics (ONS)’s previous estimate of 773,000 people being victims of sex crimes in the year to March 2020. The ONS has warned that the latest figures should be viewed with caution due to the reduced data collection period caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which means the totals cannot be directly compared. The ONS has suggested that “unwanted sexual touching” is the most common type of sex assault experienced by adults.

The CSEW figures are based on interviews with 35,000 people and are considered by ministers to be a more accurate picture of crime levels compared to reported crime data - the number of offences actually reported to police - since not all of the victims make a complaint. In the year to March 2022, 193,566 sexual offences were reported to the police, according to yesterday's ONS report on sex crimes. However, the headline figure, first published in October, rose to a record 199,021 in more updated figures covering the year to September. The ONS said: “The increases in police recorded sexual offences seen in recent years largely reflect improvements made by the police in how they record these crimes and an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report. High-profile incidents, media coverage and campaigns are likely to have affected people's willingness to report both recent and historical incidents.”

The figures underscore the ongoing problem of sexual violence in England and Wales, particularly in light of the difficulties faced by victims in reporting crimes during the pandemic. Additionally, the figures reveal that men can also be victims of sexual assault, and it is important to recognise that this issue affects people of all genders. It is crucial that authorities continue to provide support for victims, including mental health care and access to legal representation, to ensure that justice is served and to prevent future crimes from occurring. Photo by Leon israel, Wikimedia commons.