A record number of rapes, sexual assaults, domestic abuse-related offences, stalking and harassment were reported to police in the year to June, raising fears that violence against women and girls has reached epidemic levels.
The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show 74,484 rapes were reported to police in the year to June, up two per cent from the previous year. A further 144,510 sexual offences were recorded, a four per cent increase from 2025.
Police also received 622,662 allegations of stalking and harassment, up three per cent. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates that 1.9 million people were stalked last year, while 4.9 million were harassed.
Experts warn of 'tip of the iceberg'
Experts fear these figures may only be the “tip of the iceberg”, with hundreds of thousands of crimes going unreported every year. The CSEW estimated that 12.8% of women, roughly 3.2 million females, were a victim of domestic abuse, a sexual attack or stalking in the year to March 2026.
The jump has been driven by a rise in partner abuse, experienced by 7.9% of people aged 16 and over in the latest figures, compared with 6.1% in the previous year. For domestic abuse, police recorded 827,684 offences, 640,118 of which were violent crimes.
Campaigners demand action
Rachel Williams, who was shot by her violent partner before he committed suicide in 2011, said: “After years of campaigning, I find it deeply disturbing that domestic abuse remains so widespread.”
She added: “I am also increasingly concerned about the age of those affected, with victims and perpetrators appearing younger. What message does it send when perpetrators receive lenient sentences or are released early, while victims are left to live with the lifelong consequences of their actions? If the criminal justice system consistently demonstrated that domestic abuse would be met with serious consequences, it could help deter offenders and make clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Ms Williams said the shocking figures “are a warning that must not be ignored”. She told the Daily Express: “Every statistic represents a person, a family and a life potentially changed forever. I know first-hand how devastating domestic abuse can be, and I know how much courage it takes to survive and speak out. Survivors should not have to keep campaigning for the basic right to live without fear. The Government must act, the justice system must deliver meaningful consequences, and perpetrators must understand that abuse will not be met with leniency. How many more victims must suffer before we see the change that is so desperately needed?”
Political reaction and government response
The alarming figures put Labour’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in peril, with statisticians believing there has been a “significant increase” over the past 12 months. Joy Morrissey, Shadow Equalities Minister, said: "Women need more police on our streets, rapists behind bars and a justice system that puts victims before criminals. Instead, we have a Government that seems more concerned with managing prison overcrowding than ensuring the safety of women."
Kempen, chief executive at charity Victim Support, said: “The rise in partner abuse in the last year is a huge concern and should be a stark wake-up call. These figures show the government’s laudable aim of halving violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade is at risk, and may not be realised without bolder action and sustained investment across all parts of the criminal justice system. Domestic abuse must be treated as the urgent national priority that it is.”
Alice Russell-Harris, the public affairs lead at Refuge, said: “The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls … by 2034, but latest domestic abuse data from the ONS tells a troubling story. Domestic abuse often goes unseen and unreported, so these figures likely represent the tip of the iceberg. While ONS has highlighted that changes in data collection, such as the introduction and implementation of new survey questions, may have contributed to this increase, what remains steadfast is our concern that the government is not on track to fulfil its pledge.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The scale of domestic abuse in this country is completely shocking, but we are determined to tackle it. We are embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and rolling out pioneering Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, to ensure victims have the protection they need. Backed by £53million, we are rolling out the pioneering Drive Project, to tackle the highest harm perpetrators, stop reoffending and protect victims – all part of the mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
