Sexual offence reports have seen a significant increase in Avon and Somerset over recent years, with Yeovil standing out as the area with the highest number of cases since 2022. According to data from Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice, the total number of reported rape and sexual offences rose from 5,245 in 2022/23 to 6,155 the following year. This upward trend continued, reaching 7,652 reports in the past year alone.
Yeovil Town recorded 559 offences, the highest among localities in the region. Other notable areas with elevated report levels include Bristol’s Old City Docks with 403 reports, as well as Bath City Centre, Hartcliffe, Withywood, Taunton Central, and Weston Town Centre.
Lucy Duckworth, Policy Advisor at The Survivors Trust, highlighted the challenges victims face in reporting crimes, citing the trauma involved and a low prosecution rate. “Only 15% of offences are reported, and of those, just 1.6% lead to prosecution. The issue isn’t just reform but fundamentally addressing a system that fails victims,” she stated. Duckworth emphasized the need for widespread cultural change and mandatory training for police and frontline workers to better support the estimated 14 million adult survivors across the UK. She also pointed to societal victim-blaming as a major barrier to reporting and called for preventative measures rather than post-offence interventions.
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Avon and Somerset Police clarified that the 1.6% prosecution figure refers to charges filed within the same year as the report, with many cases leading to charges later. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported that 80% of rape cases referred by police in the South West lead to charges, and approximately 60% of those result in convictions. In 2024 alone, 177 defendants were convicted of rape in the region — 74 more than in 2019. The CPS also noted efforts to improve victim support to reduce withdrawal from prosecutions.
Avon and Somerset Police spoke about the success of “Operation Bluestone,” a targeted approach to rape investigations implemented nearly four years ago and recently adopted nationwide under the Home Office’s Operation Soteria. This strategy prioritizes holding perpetrators accountable and providing robust victim support, regardless of when the offence occurred.
Preventative efforts are also underway through initiatives like Project Vigilant, where plain-clothed officers patrol entertainment venues to detect and deter predatory behaviour before offences occur. Police report that positive outcomes, including tripled charge rates for rape, have increased despite higher reporting rates. Collaboration with the CPS, victim support groups, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs), and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) is central to these improvements.
Commitment to ongoing training and adopting evidence-based practices remains a priority for Avon and Somerset Police to ensure victims receive the care and justice they deserve.