More than 35 women report being raped every DAY... up 36% in just 12 months to hit record high
Extra 4,000 women raped in the year to June than in the previous 12 months
Some 13,455 women were raped according to police recorded crime figures
In total more than 22,000 rapes were recorded, a 29% rise in just a year
Increase comes despite overall falls in crime to the lowest level on record
By TOM MCTAGUE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 10:56 GMT, 16 October 2014 | UPDATED: 18:26 GMT, 16 October 2014
The number of rapes in Britain hit a record high last year - with more than 35 women attacked every day according to official figures.
An extra 4,000 women were raped in the year to June than in the previous 12 months - a shock 36 per cent increase in a year - police recorded crime figures revealed.
Overall, 13,455 women reported being raped in 2013/14 – the highest in 10 years of recording the crime. Attacks on men, girls and boys also soared – with the number of rapes almost twice as high as a decade ago.
In total more than 22,000 rapes were recorded on women and men - including children under 16 - a 29 per cent rise in just a year to reach highest ever levels among nearly 68,000 sexual offences.
The figures showed a huge increase in the number of rapes involving a knife or sharp instrument - a 48 per cent increase to 294 offences.
Aside from knife-point rapes there was also a surge in the number of sexual assaults which involved a blade, up 22 per cent to 111 in the year to June.
Today’s shock figures come amid efforts to improve conviction rates for rape.
In 2012/13 police sent 5,400 cases to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012-13, representing just 31 per cent of all reported rapes they had received.
Of the cases sent to prosecutors for trial, around 60 per cent result in convictions.
The crime survey - which asks people about their experiences of crime rather than rely on police figures - said there had been a 16 per cent fall in the past year
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The crime survey - which asks people about their experiences of crime rather than rely on police figures - said there had been a 16 per cent fall in the past year
Office for National Statistics figures also showed violent crime recorded by the police has jumped by 11 per cent.
The increase in overall violent crime meant there were 666,700 cases of 'violence against the person' in England and Wales in the 12 months to the end of June.
It meant there were an extra 69,000 violent crimes recorded in the year compared with the previous 12 months.
The Office for National Statistics said the increase in reports of sex attacks could be due to an 'Operation Yewtree' effect – where the prosecution of celebrity figures for historical offences has encouraged other victims to come forward.
It said improvements in police recording of sexual offences could be another reason for the rise.
The separate Crime Survey of England and Wales – which asks thousands of people about their experiences of crime rather than relying on police recorded data – also showed an increase in sex attacks.
It said there were an estimated 7.1 million crimes carried out against people and property last year.
This represents a 16 per cent fall compared with the previous year's survey, and is the lowest estimate since the survey began in 1981.
Violence saw a 23 per cent fall, criminal damage fell by 20 cent, and theft offences decreased by 12 cent.
In contrast, police recorded crime shows no overall change from the previous year, with 3.7 million offences recorded in the year ending June 2014.
Prior to this, police recorded crime figures have also shown year on year reductions since 2003/04.
Norman Baker, the crime prevention minister, said: 'Police reform is working and crime is down by more than 20 per cent under this government according to the independent CSEW.
'There are now 2.3 million fewer crimes per year than when the coalition government took office. That includes 413,000 fewer acts of violence and 160,000 fewer burglaries, with criminal damage down by 962,000 incidents. This is good news for a safer England and Wales.
'There are also positive signs that police recording of crime is improving, and that more victims of crimes such as sexual offences and fraud are coming forward — which is something we welcome.
'It is vital that police recorded crime statistics are as robust as they can be. That is why the Home Secretary asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to carry out a detailed investigation of recording practices in all 43 forces.
'HMIC's final report is due shortly and we expect chief constables and police and crime commissioners to act on its recommendations.'
Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, the Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman on crime statistics, added: ''It's reassuring to see increased reporting of sexual offences, as this shows that victims of abuse have greater confidence that if they report to the police they will be listened to, taken seriously and their report will be investigated fully, regardless of when the offence took place.
'The increase in reports of fraud can also be attributed to the recent changes in the way that we record crimes rather than an actual increase in incidents.
'Although police recorded violent crime is up, the crime survey shows a clear reduction in violent crime. I believe this shows that our commitment to recording crimes more consistently, with a particular focus on domestic abuse offences, is having a positive impact.'
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He sure knows how to get attention.