Rape and sexual assault statistics in the UK 2025

Sexual violence statistics in Britain tell a troubling story. Tens of thousands report these crimes each year, yet fewer than 2% result in convictions. Rape statistics reveal the scale: over 70,000 offences recorded annually, but only a fraction reach court. The rape rate UK continues rising in police data whilst prosecutions fall. This gap between crime and justice affects victims seeking accountability and defendants facing allegations alike. Whether you need protection, advice on reporting, or defence against charges, specialist sexual offence solicitors offer essential support through what can be an overwhelming legal process.

Discover the shocking ONS, CPS and MoJ statistics behind UK’s rape conviction crisis and learn how specialist legal support can bridge the justice gap.

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Rape statistics and sexual offence data: The scale of the problem

Two main sources track sexual violence in England and Wales, revealing both hidden prevalence and reported crime patterns:

1. Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) findings

Anonymous household surveys capture true sexual violence extent, including unreported incidents:

• Around 1 million adults experienced sexual assault in year ending December 2024.
• Women accounted for 84% of all sexual assault victims; only 16% of rape victims reported to police.
• 1% of adults (approximately 2 million people) experienced rape or attempted rape since age 16.
• Repeat victimisation affects 45% of adult survivors within five years.

2. Police-recorded crime data

Official figures show only reported incidents, representing a fraction of actual offending:

• 71,227 rape cases recorded by police in England and Wales (year ending December 2024), up 5% from previous year.
• Rape cases involving children under 16 comprised 38% of all recorded offences; 98% of suspects were male.
• Police recorded 205,465 sexual offences total, an 8% rise from 2023.
• Fewer than 3 in 100 recorded rapes resulted in charges the same year.

The conviction gap: From report to courtroom

The journey from police report to rape conviction reveals stark attrition, with only 2.1% of recorded rape cases resulting in conviction despite 68% success rates at rape trial.

Crown Prosecution Service charging decisions:

• Only 2,223 charges from 71,227 recorded rape cases in 2024 (3.1% rate, down from 7.5% in 2016-17).
• Most cases fail CPS Full Code Test due to digital evidence complexity and expanded disclosure obligations.
• Average 18-month investigation timelines contribute to victim withdrawal in 23% of discontinued cases.
• Operation Soteria improvements show enhanced evidence-led investigations improving police referral quality.

Court performance and rape trial outcomes:

• Trial success rate: 68% of rape cases reaching rape trial result in rape conviction, stable over the past decade.
• End-to-end failure:Overall rape conviction rate dropped from 6.5% in 2009-10 to 2.1% today despite rising rape rate UK.
• System delays:Crown Court waiting times average 12-18+ months, with rape trial duration increased to 4.2 days from 2.8 days in 2015.
• Regional variation:Rape trial conviction rates range 52-78% across Crown Courts depending on specialist resources.

Who are the victims?

Rape victim demographics reveal consistent patterns, with women comprising the vast majority of survivors while vulnerable groups face disproportionately higher risks.

Gender and age demographics:

• Women account for 84% of all rape victim cases, while men represent 16% with significantly lower reporting rates.
• Adults aged 16-24 experience highest victimisation rates.
• 38% of recorded rape cases involve victims under 16, highlighting historical disclosure.

Vulnerable groups and characteristics:

• Adults with disabilities experience sexual violence at twice the rate, particularly those with learning disabilities.
• Sexual minorities face elevated risks, with transgender individuals experiencing significantly higher assault rates.
• Immigration concerns and language barriers suppress reporting among migrant communities.
• 79% of rape victim cases involve someone known to the survivor, with intimate partners accounting for 45% of adult cases.
• Delayed disclosure, digital evidence concerns, and cross-examination anxiety contribute to attrition before rape trial.

Prosecution outcomes and sentencing

Rape cases reaching court achieve substantial rape conviction rates despite lengthy delays significantly impacting rape victim wellbeing.

• Rape trialprocesses: Crown Court rape cases face average waiting times of 12-18+ months from charge to rape trial. Modern proceedings average 4.2 days, reflecting digital evidence  89% of rape victim cases utilise video links or screens to reduce courtroom trauma.
• Sentencing outcomes:Successful rape conviction cases receive average sentences of 8-10 years under Sentencing Council guidelines, with serious cases reaching 15+ years. Only the strongest 3.1% of reported rape cases proceed to rape trial. 68% of contested cases achieve rape conviction; approximately 35% result in guilty pleas.

Trends over the past decade

Rape statistics reveal troubling divergence, with police-recorded rape cases rising 73% while rape conviction rates plummeted from 6.5% to 2.1%.

Rising reports, falling prosecutions:

• Police-recorded rape cases increased from 41,186 in 2014 to 71,227 in 2024, representing 73% rise driven by awareness campaigns and improved recording practices.
• CPS charging rates fell dramatically from 7.5% in 2016-17 to 3.1% in 2024.
• Annual rape conviction numbers remained static at 1,400-1,600 cases throughout the decade despite doubling report volumes.

System analysis:

• Crime Survey data suggests stable underlying sexual violencelevels, meaning rising rape rate UK figures reflect improved reporting confidence rather than increased offending.
• Digital evidence requirements increased case preparation time by 67% since 2018, contributing to prosecution delays and court backlogs.
• Rape trial conviction rates remained consistent at 58-75% throughout the decade.

FAQs

• Will my identity be made public if I report rape? Rape victims have automatic, lifelong anonymity under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. Publishing details likely to identify a rape victim is a criminal offence, and courts lift anonymity only in exceptional circumstances with specific legal justification.
• Can rape cases be prosecuted without physical evidence? Modern rape cases often rely on digital communications, witness testimony, and circumstantial evidence rather than forensic evidence. The CPS regularly secures rape conviction outcomes based on credible testimony and supporting evidence patterns, particularly in cases involving known perpetrators.
• Is there a time limit to report rape in the UK? There’s no time limit for reporting or prosecuting rape in England and Wales. Non-recent casescan still proceed to rape trial and achieve rape conviction, though older cases may face additional challenges regarding witness availability and digital evidence preservation during the investigation process.

ONS, CPS and MoJ data reveal a stark justice gap: rising rape statistics meet falling rape conviction rates. While rape trial outcomes achieve 68% success, systemic barriers prevent most rape victim cases reaching court, demanding urgent reform and specialist legal support.

Close the justice gap!

Qredible’s network of specialist solicitors understand the unique challenges facing rape cases and provide expert guidance on evidence preservation, CPS engagement, and court procedures.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Official rape statistics show over 1 million adults experience sexual assault annually, yet only 71,227 rape cases reach police records, with women comprising 84% of victims and most knowing their perpetrator.
• Rape conviction rates collapsed from 6.5% to 2.1% over the past decade, with CPS charging rates falling to just 3.1% despite 68% success rates for rape cases reaching rape trial.
• Specialist solicitors significantly improve outcomes by managing complex evidence requirements and coordinating support through lengthy court delays averaging 12-18+ months for every rape victim.