Sexual crime in London has increased 99% over the course of 20 years, while in the same time total recorded crimes have decreased in the capital by 25%.
Data released from the ONS crime severity score details how London saw one sexual violence crime per 1000 people in 2003, which has risen to three per 1000 in 2025.
During the same time frame, London recorded 142 per 1000 people of total recorded crime incidents in 2003, which has lowered to 106 in 2025.
Katya Slater, a former member of King’s College Women Network, a student union women advocacy group, said: “This is not a surprise.
“In London you can tell there has been a concentrated effort to deal with crimes other than sexual assault, and the data proves this.”
The crime severity score, a data tool used to identify safety partnerships, police regions and geographical regions for easier comparison, shows that London’s sexual crime score increased by 145%.
The rise in the score was also present across England and Wales, with average crime severity scores averaging 218%.
Katya Slater said: “The police and the government need to do more to provide safe spaces for women across the country.
“Women charities that deal with victims and advocacy can only do so much, it happens too much on our campus, in London and in the rest of the UK.”
Can the new National Police Service help?
The release of this data by the ONS ending March 2025 coincide with new police reforms announced by the Home Secretary earlier this week.
Shabana Mahmood released plans to introduce a new National Police Service that some have compared to the American FBI.
The new service will specialise fighting serious crimes, such as counter-terrorism and gang violence.
The home secretary told the BBC this would allow regional police forces more resources and training to fight common everyday crimes, such as sexual crimes.
Megan Bradley, another former member of Women’s Network, said: “The police reforms do sound promising.
“If these extra resources do allow for more specialised training and resources to help tackle the rise in sexual assault crimes then I would support it but we have to wait and see.”
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “While there are some green shoots of progress, conviction rates for reports of sexual violence remain shockingly low.
“While police reforms are important for improving the quality and timelessness of investigations, its the criminal justice system as a whole that needs a radical overhaul.”
The rise of sexual crimes is also present across England and Wales, with areas such as Yorkshire and the Humber seeing a 300% rise since 2003.
Katya Slater said: “Sexual assault isn’t just a London issue so if the formation of this new national police service offers support for regional services to deal with everyday predators then it is a good thing.
“But there are things that the government need to do first to help tackle this sexual assault epidemic, such as correct teaching to help victims and also by working on the convictions.
“It isn’t enough to just get arrested, and there is also a need to reform the criminal justice system.
“There is still a lot to do.”
Andrea Simon said: “As it stands, the justice system is unfit for purpose and survivors of violence against women in particular, face too many barriers to accessing appropriate support and justice.”
Victims Support, a charity dedicated to supporting victims of traumatic crimes in England and Wales, responded to the police reforms saying they welcome the governments ambition to modernise policing.
But Victims Support CEO Katie Kempen in her response said: “But, to truly rebuild trust, they must make sure the implementation of these reforms is shaped by the victims.
“Ministers must move at pace, and in close partnership with the victims’ sector, to provide clarity on the future of these services.”
Featured image credit: pexels-olgalioncat-7245338
Join the discussion