North Yorkshire: thousands of rape and sex offences reported last year

And just five per cent (107) of the 2,025 reports made between September 2023 and the end of August 2024 resulted in a charge or summons, according to a Freedom of Information request made to the force by Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson told The Press the five per cent figure does not, however, “reflect the correct picture and is based on how the Home Office count charges”.

They said the force’s “actual charge rate” for all sexual offences is 15 per cent for 2024.

The Home Office, the police spokesperson said, does not count any charges that are 12 months and one day or more after the offence.

“So you could have a rape reported on 1 January 2024 but if the suspect was charged on 2 January 2025, it would not be counted in those figures.

“Rape and sexual offences are complex and often lengthy investigations that require detailed and painstaking work and often take longer than a year to complete.

“These longer investigations are not reflected in the figure of five per cent.”

The data obtained by Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice revealed that the most common sexual offence reported to North Yorkshire Police last year was sexual assault on a female aged 13 and over, of which there were 504 logged by the force.

• Read next: Rise in violent and sexual offences in York Inner area, according to figures

Rape of a female aged 16 and over was the second most common offence, accounting for 444 reports, while a further 187 offences were reported for sexual activity involving a child under 13. 

According to the force, the majority of rape and sexual offence victims in the last year were between the ages of 11 and 15, while the most common age group for suspects was between 21 and 30.

Home Office figures show that nearly 1.9m violent or sexual crimes in England and Wales were closed without a suspect being caught or charged in the year to June 2024 – about 89 per cent of all offences given an outcome. 

Violence against women and girls is 'national emergency', says minister

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, described violence against woman and girls as a “national emergency” facing the UK.

“It is completely unacceptable that fewer and fewer violent and sexual crimes are being solved, with more victims being let down time and time again,” she said.

“The severity of these numbers prove why violence against women and girls is a national emergency and that is why we have set out our unprecedented mission to halve it in a decade.”

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) The North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Rape and sexual assault are highly complex crimes to investigate and outcomes cannot always be measured by criminal charges alone.

“In some cases it is not possible to prosecute but that does not mean that nothing has been done to protect and safeguard a victim, or that measures have not been taken to manage the risk posed by a suspect or offender.

“That said, we know there is more to do to improve positive outcomes along with the service we provide to victims and survivors of some of the worst crimes imaginable.”

North Yorkshire Police HQ, Northallerton (Image: Richard Doughty Photography) They said the force is currently implementing Operation Soteria, a new, national model to "transform how we respond to rape and serious sexual offences".

“It is an intense programme of work that is expected to take several years to fully embed."

They added: “We urge victims and survivors not to be put off by headline reports, but to please come forward and report what has happened to you, no matter when it happened.

“We will investigate thoroughly and you will also be offered support and advice from our specialist partner agencies.

“If you do not want to speak to the police direct, you can call York and North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre. But please always call 999 in an emergency.”  

Reporting sexual abuse and accessing support

North Yorkshire Police shared the following advice for reporting sexual abuse and accessing support:

• Make a report via North Yorkshire Police’s website or by calling 101 and speak to the Force Control Room.
• If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, always dial 999. 
• Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.
• Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk
• Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC): if you prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, you can contact North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email bridgehouse.sarc@nhs.net or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org/
• You can also contact Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at www.supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.