A rape offence is reported every hour in London, according to data obtained by the BBC.

More than 8,800 rape incidents were reported to the Metropolitan Police in 2023 – an average of 24 a day.

Charities have called the findings “horrifying” but say the true extent of sexual offending will be far higher.

The Met says it remains determined to tackle sexual violence, is “striving to do better” and that the number of rape charges has more than doubled since 2022.

The data – obtained via Freedom of Information requests to the Met and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) – also shows a further 11,000 reports of other sexual crimes were reported to the force last year, with almost a quarter of all reported crimes from people aged under 18.

The figures represent the number of reports issued from 2018 to 2023, but do not necessarily mean all the crimes happened within that time period.

For example, if someone reported historical sexual abuse in 2023, that would be filed as a 2023 report.

There were two offence datasets: one on reported rape only, and another comprising sexual assault, assault by penetration and attempted rape offences.

From 2018 to 2023, of all these crimes, total reported incidents increased by 14% to almost 20,000.

To put this into context, a report of sexual violence or rape was made to the Met on average every 26 and a half minutes.

London-based Rape Crisis centres, Solace and Nia have called the findings “horrifying” adding that it “clear urgent change is needed”.

Sexual offence reports on London transport up 10%

Amy has waived her right to anonymity.

She says she handed the police a phone with evidence and said the Met returned it after six months.

She said: “I found out that they didn’t take any of the evidence off it so they called me again to ask for my phone back to get that evidence but my phone broke so effectively, from that moment on, I knew that the case was going to be dropped because literally all of the evidence was gone.

“That moment was a terrible moment in time and put me into absolute paralysis but it was the police that put me on suicide watch.

“Victims already feel that everything is the victim’s fault but the police will definitely ensure that you feel that way.”

Tirion Havard, professor of gender abuse and policy at London South Bank University, said the figures were “depressing” both because of the extent of the offending and also in that it was “depressing that I’m not surprised”.

Prof Havard added the actual problem was far worse than the figures released by the Met indicate.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg. This is almost best-case scenario.”

Rape Crisis says only one in six women who are raped report the crime – that figure is one in five for male victims – while only one in four will report other types of sexual assault.

Additionally, data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in the year ending in March 2022 almost 800,000 females aged 16 and over reported that they were raped or sexually assaulted every year in the UK – that’s about one in 30. This figure was 275,000 for male victims.

Nearly a quarter of all reported victims were 17 or younger. This makes it the second-largest age bracket, behind 18 to 29 years old.

According to the data, more than 4,300 children reported being a victim of rape or sexual assault to the Met in 2023, equating to a report of sexual abuse about every two hours.

Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) assistant director for London and the South East, said child sexual offences in London “remain close to record levels”.

She also noted the true extent of offending was likely to be much higher.

Ms Fitzgerald believes “it is crucial that the new government overhauls the criminal justice system” to tackle crime backlogs and to fast-track cases involving children.

Charges for sexual crimes have risen significantly in recent years.

There were 818 charges in 2018, falling to 800 the following year but have steadily risen since then to 1,419 in 2023.

However these figures represent only a small fraction of complaints made.

While the data shows an increase in the number of people reporting such crimes, and an increase in charges, the charity Rape Crisis UK believes “urgent” change is needed.

“We want to see a robust criminal justice system that victims and survivors and the wider public can have faith in.”

While the charity acknowledged commitments by the Met and CPS to tackle sexual violence, it said “we are yet to see this impact”.

In response to the criticism, the Met told the BBC it was “determined to tackle sexual violence and our teams have transformed the way we investigate rape and sexual offences”.

‘Survivors need to be believed’

In 2023, the figure of 1,419 charges made compares to 10,991 reports of rape in London, although the number of prosecutions does not represent the number of alleged crimes committed in a given year. Some of the prosecutions will be from cases reported in 2022 or earlier.

In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says it can only work on cases sent to it by the police.

The data obtained from the CPS shows the number of prosecutions and convictions for “rape-flagged cases and cases where the principal offence was sexual offences” from January 2018 to December 2022.

Across this five-year span the CPS recorded 1,527 prosecutions and 925 convictions – a conviction rate of 60.6%.

A spokesperson for the CPS said “more must be done to drive up the overall number of cases charged”.

They added that this was why the CPS was “working closely with the police from the earliest stage of an investigation to build strong cases from the outset”.

The conviction rate for rape “seriously undermines survivors’ confidence in the criminal justice system”, according to Rape Crisis.

“Survivors need to be believed and supported; they need to trust that the system will fight for justice.”

As of January this year, there were 3,355 rape cases awaiting trial in England and Wales, with an average wait time for defendants on bail of 358 days.

But tackling these crimes cannot be done by the police alone, says Cdr Kevin Southworth, lead for public protection at the Met Police.

“Listening to those with lived experience, and working together with charities and partners across the criminal justice system, we’re working to ensure that all victims and survivors get the justice they deserve,” he told BBC London.

Rape survivor ‘disgusted’ over no free transcripts

Reporting a sexual crime can be extremely traumatic and any legal proceedings add extra turmoil, says Prof Havard.

She believes the investigation procedures and cross-examinations into rape cases leave women feeling “virtually strip searched”.

“There’s a double victimisation. First of all, she’s raped and then she’s blamed for that rape. Why would anybody want to put themselves through that?”

Combine this with entrenched societal stereotypes and victims feel helpless, she says.

It’s not just faith in the system. It’s faith in the Metropolitan Police too, says Prof Havard.

In response, the CPS said it was improving its service to victims and that complainants could pre-record their cross-examination by the defence and so not have to give evidence in front of a jury.

In recent years, London has witnessed a number of Met officers convicted of sexual offences, the most high profile of which was the rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 by off-duty constable Wayne Couzens.

On the third anniversary of the attack, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it would “take years” to repair damage to trust in the police.

Since then, there have been further high profile cases involving Met officers.

In February of last year, David Carrick admitted to dozens of rapes and sexual offences against 12 women.

Meanwhile in May, another former police officer, Cliff Mitchell, was jailed for 10 counts of rape, including three of raping a child under the age of 13.

‘Striving to do better’

Det Ch Supt Angela Craggs said: “We know reporting a sexual offence to police can be difficult and we have worked hard in recent years to improve and support those who take this step.

“Significant progress has been made in relation to digital forensics, including obtaining evidence from mobile devices when someone reports an offence, to ensure this is as unobtrusive an experience as possible.

“In most cases we try and ensure a mobile device is returned within 24 hours and ensure our evidence gathering is targeted to extract only relevant information.

“We have also invested £11m in our technology and staff to speed us this process and minimise the impact on victims.

“We are always striving to do better and know that listening to and understanding the experiences of those who report sexual offences to us is a key part of this process.”

Credit: BBC News

The British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery, has announced a United Kingdom (UK)- sponsored five million dollar investment to establish the first battery recycling facility in Nigeria.

This is according to a statement by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission on Friday in Abuja.

Montgomery said that the announcement and signing of a letter of intent by UK company, Hinckley, to establish the facility in Ogun state was made when he visited Gov. Dapo Abiodun.

According to him, the five million dollars investment provided by UK’s Manufacturing Africa (MA) will create a lithium-ion battery and lead acid battery recycling and treatment plant in Ogun State, using patented recycling technology.

“It is fantastic that Hinckley Recycling is committing to establish the first battery recycling facility in Nigeria, creating a new high-value addition export industry in Ogun State and 100 new jobs.

“Congratulations to the Commissioners and to OgunInvest who worked with Hinckley to make this groundbreaking project a reality.

“The UK fully supports the governor’s mission to bring new investment and new jobs into Ogun State.

“The UK Government’s development finance bank, British International Investment, invested 15 million dollars into Valency International last year

“And the UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme is supporting four other companies in Ogun State to raise capital and expand their production facilities.” he said.

Meanwhile, the envoy, who also visited Lagos state, underscored UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and supporting development initiatives in Nigeria.

During the four-day visit, the High Commissioner met with Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

He engaged in discussions focused on enhancing economic ties, investments opportunities and future priorities that could be beneficial to both Lagos and Ogun states, and the UK.

According to Montgomery , his visit to Lagos and Ogun States had reinforced the strong ties between our two great countries .

He said that both states were key to boosting Nigeria’s economic prosperity .

The envoy, therefore, reiterated UK’s commitment in driving growth, promoting trade and supporting their developments .

In Lagos, Montgomery also met with Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and some business leaders in Nigeria, including the CEOs of Airtel Nigeria, Standard Chartered, Nigeria Helios Investment Partners, Afrinvest and KPMG West Africa.

The Allergy and Clinical Immunology Society (ACIS) has lamented the difficulties encountered in caring for allergy conditions owing to a lack of training, access to drugs, and the cost of drugs.

Chairperson of ACIS, Dr Olatunde Odusote, decried the lack of awareness in this region regarding allergy diseases while noting that the increase in these conditions, though not fully understood, can be attributed to climate change and global warming.

This was stated at a media parley yesterday, ahead of the two-day World Allergy Training School (WATS) starting today in Lagos, organised by ACIS in partnership with the World Allergy Organisation (WAO).

He noted the need to develop a curriculum within the context of the nation to offer basic training to practitioners who can care for allergies at the primary level.

He added that participants for the training would cut across the various medical spectrum, and lectures would cover disease processes, necessary tests to run, their interpretation, and how to go about it.

“One of the major problems we have had in the world of allergy is that people think when one has such conditions, you must do a test, but it is not necessarily so. You need to listen to their story first, and if there is a need for a test, you can go ahead,” he said.

Odusote stated that the organisation is focused on creating awareness, promoting advocacy, and empowering healthcare practitioners and the community with the right information.

President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Prof. James Tracy, said the training would deal with a catalogue of allergies such as asthma, food allergy, and practical training on how to treat severe allergic reactions.

He noted that disease awareness, genetic components, and environmental pollution are possible causes of increased allergic conditions globally.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has stated that Nigeria is “technically bankrupt” and urged the Federal Government to implement urgent restructuring for the country to progress.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Obaseki said the nation is unable to cover its expenditures due to insufficient earnings, while government spending remains high.

“Nigeria is technically bankrupt. And I mean it,” Obaseki said, comparing the situation to the U.S. Chapter Eleven bankruptcy process, where organisations restructure to meet their obligations.

He noted that Nigeria is not undertaking such restructuring, continuing to act as though it still had significant financial resources.

The governor also criticised the Federal Government’s centralised management of resources, arguing that individual states should be allowed to exploit their own economic opportunities. “

“It (Nigeria) has been in trouble for a while. I won’t say insolvent, but technically so, in the sense that we don’t have enough to cover our expenditure, we are not reducing our expenditure, and we are not earning more,” he said.

“First, the Federal Government does not have the capacity to manage the economy at the scale and in the way it is currently doing. You’re producing 1.3 million barrels of oil, right? Because you are trying to do it centrally. We have 147 oil wells in Edo, and only 53 or fewer are producing.

“Unless you create a new design that allows the individual states to take advantage of the economic opportunities they have, stressing the assets of this country and paying what they need to pay to the central government, the federal government cannot sit and try to micromanage the country and its assets. It has shown that it cannot. It doesn’t have the capacity to do so.”

Obaseki also expressed concern that the government is “stuck in the past” and lacks the courage to make difficult decisions necessary for restructuring.

He stressed that the current governance structure is outdated, noting that the current structure “is expired; it’s outdated” and Nigeria needs a new structure to run the economy of the state.

He added, “I think for me, it’s like this federal government is stuck, and stuck in the past. Because you cannot resolve a malignant problem using the same tools you have used over the years.

“It’s not that the people there are not smart; it’s not that they’re stupid. It’s more that they just don’t have the courage to make the decisions they need to make.

“The problem with Nigeria today is structural. The structure we have is expired; it’s outdated. We need a new structure to run the economy of the state. If it doesn’t happen, we are not going anywhere.”

Special Adviser to the Delta State governor on trade and export promotion, Mrs. Shimite Love, has raised concerns over the practice of slavery and forced labour in Delta State.

Shimite, who spoke to journalists in Asaba yesterday, frowned upon the practice of modern-day slavery, mostly in restaurants.

“I was told Delta practises slavery, but I didn’t believe it until I went out to see things for myself. I saw people really working in restaurants; they are not being paid, while some borrow money and are made to work for it for years. That is slavery.

“People are suffering slavery in the state. I don’t know about other states, but in Delta, we have already been marked as people who engage in child labour and slavery. So, we must frown upon it, and whoever engages in the act should be held responsible,” she advised.

The dehumanisation occasioned by slavery, according to her, is too much. So it is important we seek their freedom without delay.

The governor’s special adviser also revealed that “Nigeria has no business being poor or hungry, even in the midst of a high exchange rate.”

For her, opportunities abound everywhere for anyone to earn a means of livelihood and stop crying about hunger across the nation.

She expressed displeasure, however, that “Nigerians have turned themselves into a palliative country. I’m not a party to palliatives. But, while others see hunger and poverty, I see opportunities around me.”

Speaking on the issue of the pandemic and how the harsh economy affects export business, she said her office believes that when an economy is down, it is a business opportunity for someone else. When there is a pandemic, it is a business opportunity for someone, and where there is war, it is a business opportunity for someone.

Regarding the untapped opportunities in the export business, she called on those interested to tap into export business and patronise the Koko Port to ease the export of their agricultural products.

She encouraged Deltans and other Nigerians who experience delays in clearing their products for export in other seaports to patronise the Koko Port for speedy clearance, even at the lowest cost.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has disclosed some of the benefits of the new Electronic Central Motor Registry (E-CMR), a digital innovation designed to modernise vehicle registration and improve road safety.

The Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the benefits of the innovation on Thursday.

Adejobi said the E-CMR will eliminate the need for physical vehicle documents and enable real-time verification of registration information by police officers

He explained that the Electronic Central Motor Registry system was launched to make roads safer and the policing process more efficient.

Adejobi also stated the new E-CMR system elimination of paperwork, saying, “NO MORE PAPERWORK! With the NPF’s new E-CMR system, you don’t need to carry around physical documents. Access all your vehicle info digitally – quick, easy, and secure.

He added that this new system allows vehicle owners to immediately flag their vehicle as stolen through their online profile if it goes missing, triggering alerts to field officers nationwide within seconds.

With this new E-CMR system, according to Adejobi, there is no more need to stop and check papers, as officers are equipped with cutting-edge technology to verify documents in real time.

Adejobi stated, “If your vehicle is registered with the NPF E-CMR and gets stolen, you can instantly flag it as stolen through your online profile. All field officers nationwide will be alerted within seconds! Let’s make our roads safer together,”

“Inspector-General Egbetokun is revolutionising how we keep our roads safe with the new E-CMR system! Now, no more stopping to check papers; our officers are equipped with cutting-edge tech to verify documents in real-time.”

e-policing is around. pic.twitter.com/tryAUFMYQz

— Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi (@Princemoye1) September 18, 2024