Andy Burnham is facing a new crisis (Image: Getty)
Women and girls are facing an epidemic of violence, sex attacks, stalking and harassment after years of “lenient sentences” for thugs and perverts. A record number of rapes, sexual assaults, domestic abuse-related offences, stalking and harassment were reported by victims last year.
And experts fear this may only be the “tip of the iceberg”, with hundreds of thousands of crimes going unreported every year. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated 12.8% of women, roughly 3.2 million females, were a victim of domestic abuse, a sexual attack or stalking.
Charities and campaigners fear the crisis has intensified after years of abusers being handed pitifully short sentences. The Tories also blamed Labour’s early release scheme, with prisoners getting out after serving as little as a third of their sentence behind bars.
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.
“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?”
The alarming figures put Labour’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in peril. But statisticians believe there has been a “significant increase” over the past 12 months.
A shocking 74,484 rapes were reported to police in the year to June, the Office for National Statistics said. This is up two per cent from last year.
And statisticians recorded another 144,510 sexual offences, a four per cent increase from 2025.
But the ONS said the Crime Survey for England and Wales provides a “more reliable measure”.
And data experts said 2.8% of women reported being attacked last year.
A similar picture emerges in the number of stalking and harassment offences recorded by police forces.
Police have launched a record number of rape probes (Image: MEN MEDIA)
Officers received 622,662 allegations of stalking and harassment this year, up three per cent. But the CSEW estimates that 1.9 million people were stalked last year, while 4.9 million were harassed.
An estimated 3.2 million women were a victim of domestic abuse, a sexual attack or stalking last year, according to the CSEW. This measure covers 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.
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.
“And nowhere is Labour’s failure to grasp the seriousness of women’s safety more apparent than its approach to illegal immigration.
“The Home Office has even produced a booklet explaining to illegal immigrants that rape, sexual harassment and coercing women is not only completely unacceptable in Britain but illegal.
“How has Britain reached the point where ministers believe such basic social norms and laws need spelling out?”
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.”
Andy Burnham Warned of Growing Violence Crisis – ‘Tip of the Iceberg’
Britain is facing renewed questions over its response to violence against women and girls after new figures revealed the scale of domestic abuse, sexual offences, stalking and harassment across England and Wales.
The latest statistics have prompted warnings from campaigners that the number of incidents reported to police represents only part of the problem. Many victims never come forward, leaving authorities with an incomplete picture of the harm taking place in homes, schools, workplaces and communities.
The figures have placed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade under renewed scrutiny. Charities and survivors are demanding stronger action, arguing that promises must be matched by effective policing, support for victims and meaningful consequences for offenders.
The issue is particularly sensitive because violence can have consequences that last long after an individual incident. Victims may experience physical injuries, financial difficulties, emotional trauma and lasting disruption to their relationships and everyday lives.
For the government, the challenge is to demonstrate that its policies can reduce offending, improve the treatment of victims and prevent abuse before it escalates.
The figures behind the growing concern
Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics have highlighted the scale of the problem.
For the year ending March 2026, the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that approximately 3.2 million women had experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking during the previous year.
The same survey estimated that around 4.7 million adults aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse. That represented approximately 9.6 per cent of adults, compared with 7.8 per cent in the previous year’s estimate.
Police-recorded figures also showed an increase in reported offences. In the year to June 2026, police recorded 74,484 rapes, while other sexual offences reached 144,510.
These figures require careful interpretation. Police-recorded offences reflect incidents reported to and recorded by law enforcement, whereas the crime survey attempts to capture experiences that may never reach the police.
Changes to survey questions and data collection can also influence comparisons between years. The latest figures therefore do not, on their own, establish that every category of violence has increased by the same amount.
Nevertheless, the scale of the reported harm remains a serious concern for organisations working with victims and survivors.
The statistics also demonstrate why the issue cannot be addressed through police investigations alone. Preventing abuse requires cooperation between law enforcement, healthcare providers, schools, local authorities and specialist support services.
Why campaigners say the problem could be much bigger
One of the most difficult aspects of domestic and sexual abuse is that many incidents remain hidden.
Victims may fear retaliation, feel ashamed, worry that they will not be believed or depend financially on the person harming them. Others may not recognise certain forms of controlling behaviour as abuse, particularly when the behaviour has developed gradually within a relationship.
Some people are also reluctant to report incidents because they fear the consequences for their children, their housing situation or their wider family.
These barriers can make it difficult for authorities to identify offenders and provide timely assistance.
Refuge and other specialist organisations have warned that the latest figures should be treated as a serious indication of the scale of the problem, rather than a complete record of every victim’s experience.
The phrase “tip of the iceberg” reflects this concern: official statistics can reveal only the incidents captured by the relevant surveys and reporting systems.
However, the extent of unreported abuse is difficult to establish precisely. The important point is that underreporting creates a gap between the experiences of victims and the information available to decision-makers.
Closing that gap requires services that people trust and can access without fear of judgement or retaliation.
The pressure on Andy Burnham’s government
Burnham’s government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls by 2034. The latest figures have raised questions about how that ambition will be achieved and how progress will be measured.
A national target provides a clear objective, but reaching it requires sustained action across several areas.
Police forces need the resources and specialist expertise to investigate reports of rape, domestic abuse and stalking. Prosecutors and courts must be able to process cases effectively, while victims need support throughout the process.
Campaigners argue that delays, inconsistent investigations and the experience of navigating the criminal justice system can discourage victims from seeking help.
The government has highlighted measures intended to improve protection, including the use of domestic abuse specialists in emergency call centres and the expansion of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders.
These orders are designed to help protect victims by placing restrictions on alleged or convicted perpetrators in circumstances covered by the relevant legal framework.
Ministers have also announced funding for the Drive Project, which works with perpetrators who pose a high risk of harm, with the aim of reducing repeat abuse and improving victim safety.
Such programmes may form part of a wider strategy, but their effectiveness depends on implementation, adequate staffing and consistent cooperation between agencies.
The government will face increasing pressure to demonstrate that these measures are producing measurable improvements rather than simply adding to an existing list of commitments.
Are sentences and early releases part of the problem?
The debate has also focused on sentencing, prison capacity and the early release of some prisoners.
Critics of the government’s approach argue that offenders who commit serious violent or sexual crimes must face consequences that reflect the harm they have caused. They warn that decisions intended to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons can undermine public confidence if they are not accompanied by effective risk assessments and supervision.
Opposition politicians have used the latest figures to criticise the government’s handling of crime and public safety.
However, the relationship between sentencing policy and the reported increase in abuse is complex. The available statistics do not, by themselves, prove that early-release arrangements caused the changes in recorded offences.
Preventing violence also requires identifying patterns of abusive behaviour before they escalate, protecting victims who report threats and ensuring that offenders are monitored appropriately when they return to the community.
Longer sentences alone cannot address every aspect of domestic abuse, particularly when incidents are never reported or evidence is insufficient to bring a prosecution.
At the same time, public confidence depends on victims believing that their complaints will be taken seriously and that the justice system can respond effectively.
The government must therefore explain how sentencing, rehabilitation, policing and victim protection fit together within its wider strategy.
The disturbing issue of abuse involving children
Concerns have also intensified over sexual abuse involving children in schools.
An investigation published by the Guardian in October 2026 found that police recorded at least 8,500 sexual offences against children under 13 on or near school premises in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025.
The figures included nearly 2,000 rapes or attempted rapes. The data did not consistently identify the age of every alleged perpetrator, so it cannot establish that all the offences involved other pupils.
Nevertheless, the findings prompted a coalition of 87 organisations to call on Burnham to take decisive action.
The organisations argued that children must be able to attend school without facing sexual harassment or abuse. They also called for stronger prevention, better support for victims and more effective responses when allegations emerge.
Schools have an important role in teaching children about consent, personal boundaries and respectful relationships. Staff also need clear procedures for identifying concerning behaviour and reporting suspected abuse.
Online platforms and social media are another area of concern, particularly when harmful attitudes are reinforced through harassment, humiliation or the circulation of abusive material.
Education cannot replace law enforcement, but early intervention may help prevent harmful behaviour from becoming entrenched.
What victims need from the authorities
For survivors, the most important measure of progress is whether they can obtain safety and support when they need it.
That can involve access to emergency accommodation, specialist counselling, legal assistance, financial support and practical help with moving away from an abusive partner.
Victims may also need assistance navigating police interviews, medical appointments and court proceedings.
Specialist charities frequently warn that support must remain available over time. Leaving an abusive relationship does not necessarily end the danger, and some victims continue to face stalking, intimidation or financial control after separation.
A reliable response therefore requires cooperation between police, local councils, healthcare services and organisations supporting survivors.
Authorities also need to ensure that people from different backgrounds can access help, including those who face language barriers, disability-related obstacles or concerns about their immigration or housing circumstances.
The availability of services can vary between areas, making consistent funding and clear referral arrangements particularly important.
If victims believe they will be dismissed or left to navigate the system alone, they may be less willing to seek help. Improving trust is therefore an essential part of prevention.
Can Britain meet its target by 2034?
The latest figures present a significant challenge for the government’s promise to halve violence against women and girls.
Meeting the target will require more than public awareness campaigns. It will depend on whether prevention programmes reduce offending, whether victims receive protection quickly and whether the criminal justice system can respond effectively to reports of abuse.
It will also require reliable data that allows ministers and the public to distinguish between changes in reporting, improvements in recording and genuine changes in the prevalence of offending.
A rise in reports does not necessarily mean that every form of abuse is becoming more common. It can sometimes reflect greater awareness or a willingness among victims to come forward.
Conversely, falling police figures would not automatically prove that violence had declined, particularly if victims were becoming less likely to report incidents.
That is why survey data, police statistics and information from support services need to be considered together.
Campaigners will continue to press the government to publish clear measures of progress and explain where additional resources are needed.
A crisis that requires sustained action
The latest figures have renewed attention on the experiences of millions of people affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking and harassment.
They have also highlighted the difficulty of tackling offences that often occur in private and remain unreported for long periods.
For Burnham’s government, the challenge is to turn its pledge into practical improvements that victims can see and experience.
That means protecting people at immediate risk, improving investigations, supporting survivors and addressing the behaviour that allows abuse to continue.
It also means being honest about what the available evidence shows, where uncertainty remains and which policies are producing results.
The phrase “tip of the iceberg” captures the concern that official statistics cannot reveal every victim’s experience. Behind each reported offence is a person whose safety, confidence or future may have been affected.
The government’s success will ultimately depend not on the strength of its announcements, but on whether fewer people experience violence and whether those who do can obtain protection, justice and lasting support.