THE worst areas in the UK for rape and sexual assaults have been revealed.
The Sun can today expose where in Britain that are most likely to fall victim to sexual offences.
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Cleveland is the current “sexual crime capital of England” where the highest level of crimes per 1,000 population was reported.
The numbers are calculated to show the level of crime proportionate to the number of people who live there.
Cleveland saw 4.6 sexual crimes occur per 1,000 people according to the latest ONS figures.
Although it is among the UK’s smallest forces, the Cleveland Police force covering Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees is now dealing with a shocking epidemic of sexual offences.
However, the findings come as no surprise to the people of Middlesbrough, the capital of the region, who say the area is getting worse.
Mum Sabrina Hazell takes her dog out with her, which she uses as a safety comfort.
The 35-year-old full-time student said: “There is a big issue with drugs in Cleveland and that contributes a lot to the crime.
“The figures do make you feel unsafe but they don’t come as a huge surprise.
“I haven’t been on a night-out in a long time but if I were to I would definitely be more wary.
“You hear stories about people getting drug raped where people get spiked via a needle.
“I know if someone around here who got spiked and then bundled into the back of a van but thankfully someone saw it happening.
“I’ve got the dog with me so I feel a bit better about going out but if I didn’t have her I would be very wary of going out on an evening.”
COPS CRACKING DOWN
Claire Neal, 50, had heard there was a rape close to where she lived last month.
She said: “It’s bad where I live and it’s full of prostitution and drugs.
“The police are trying to crack down but it’s getting worse.
“I wouldn’t dare go out alone on at night time. A woman got raped just recently which is scary.
“I refuse to even go to the corner shop on my own. You used to be able to but not now.
“Someone I know also got followed by some men outside a pub and she had to pretend she was on the phone to her partner. It’s all very worrying.”
In second place comes Greater Manchester which sees 4.1 sexual offences reported per 1,000 people.
And close behind is West Yorkshire with 4 per capita.
Meanwhile, Surrey is the safest place to BE for sexual offences England and Wales.
Per 1,000 they have just just 2 sexual crimes a year.
Hertfordshire, Bedforshire and Wiltshire were also among the safest areas in the country.
But it’s not just about going out at night, as rape or sexual assault can be from someone you already know.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Surprisingly, per capita, crime-ridden London does not even place in the top 30 most dangerous places.
It ranks in 35th place – with the Metropolitan Police dealing with just 2.8 sexual-based crimes per 1,000 people.
A spokesperson for The Survivors Trust told The Sun: “These figures unfortunately come as no surprise, and reflect those seen throughout the country. In the year ending March 2022, the highest-ever number of rapes and sexual offences was recorded.
“Yet both charging and conviction rates for these offences remain amongst the lowest since records began. The sad fact is that if you are a victim of a sexual offence, you are unlikely to see justice.
“We know that the vast majority of sexual offences are not reported to the police at all, so these figures really do represent just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the prevalence of sexual abuse in our society.
“Deciding to report a rape or sexual assault is a huge decision for any survivor. If they do decide to report, they want and deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. All too often they are not.
“At each stage of the criminal justice process, the victim’s credibility is challenged and at each stage, there is a real and understandable risk of that victim being retraumatised. We often hear from survivors who have found the process as traumatic as the attack itself.
“We need to review and improve the whole process from reporting onwards to make it one which supports the survivor rather than adding to their trauma. And we need to involve survivors and the agencies which support them in this process.”
UK’s 40 most dangerous places for sexual assault
Number of sexual offences reported to the Police per 1,000 people.
- Cleveland 4.6
- Great Manchester 4.1
- West Yorkshire 4
- Durham 3.7
- Humberside 3.7
- Hampshire 3.6
- Norfolk 3.6
- North Wales 3.6
- Northamptonshire 3.6
- Cheshire 3.5
- Kent 3.5
- Leicestershire 3.5
- Northumbria 3.5
- Suffolk 3.5
- West Midlands 3.5
- umbria 3.4
- Gloucestershire 3.4
- South Yorkshire 3.4
- Derbyshire 3.3
- Dyfed-Powys 3.3
- Essex 3.3
- Lincolnshire 3.3
- Staffordshire 3.3
- Merseyside 3.2
- Cambridgeshire 3.1
- Devon and Cornwall 3.1
- Gwent 3.1
- Nottinghamshire 3.1
- Sussex 3.1
- West Mercia 3.1
- Avon and Somerset 3
- Lancashire 3
- South Wales
- Dorset 2.8
- Met Police 2.8
- North Yorkshire 2.7
- Warwickshire 2.7
- Thames Valley 2.6
- Wiltshire 2.5
- Bedfordshire 2.4
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