North Yorkshire: Last year, over 2,000 sexual offences were reported. Only five percent led to charges. This statistic comes from a Freedom of Information request. It raises questions about how effectively these cases are handled.

A police spokesperson clarified that the five percent figure doesn’t tell the whole story. They say the actual charge rate for sexual offences is around 15 percent for 2024. The Home Office counts charges differently, which can skew the numbers.

For example, if a rape is reported on January 1, 2024, but the suspect is charged on January 2, 2025, it won’t be included in the statistics. Investigating these crimes can take a long time, often over a year.

The most common offence reported was sexual assault on females aged 13 and older, with 504 cases logged. Rape of females aged 16 and over followed closely, with 444 reports. There were also 187 cases involving sexual activity with children under 13.

Most victims were between 11 and 15 years old, while suspects were typically aged 21 to 30. Nationally, nearly 1.9 million violent or sexual crimes in England and Wales were closed without a suspect being caught or charged last year.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, called this a “national emergency.” She emphasized the need for better solutions to protect victims and solve these crimes.

The police spokesperson acknowledged that investigating rape and sexual assault is complex. They noted that not every case results in a charge, but that doesn’t mean no action is taken to support victims.

North Yorkshire Police is working on Operation Soteria, a new initiative aimed at improving responses to serious sexual offences. They encourage victims to report incidents, regardless of when they occurred, and assure them of support from specialist agencies.

If you need to report sexual abuse or seek help, North Yorkshire Police offers several options. You can report online or call 101. In emergencies, always dial 999. For child-related concerns, contact the NSPCC Helpline. There are also resources available for adult victims and young people.