6.5K rape cases, sexual assaults reported in UK hospitals in more than 3 years

Over 6,500 cases of sexual assaults and rapes have been reported in UK hospitals over more than three years, revealed a new study conducted by the Women Rights Network (WRN), a UK organization that defends women’s rights.

Assault cases were also reported against children under the age of 13 in England and Wales, the report said, adding that a total of 2,088 rapes and 4,451 sexual assaults were reported to the police since January 2019.

More than 95% of rape cases were against female victims, while other cases of rape against male children were also recorded, the report revealed, noting that only 4% of the offenders have been charged.

“These statistics are jaw-dropping. We began this investigation because a number of members raised concerns about the safety of women and children on NHS wards, but we are horrified at what we have uncovered […] Hospitals are places where everyone - patients, staff and visitors - should feel completely safe. But rapes and violent assaults are taking place every week in hospitals. To add to the horror, those men committing the crimes are getting away with it,” said WRN founder Heather Binning in the report.

All over England and Wales, the number of rapes recorded by police over the period between October 2021 to September 2022 reached 70,633 cases, said Rape Crisis. It noted that justice was brought in only 2,616 rape cases.

According to Rape Crisis, 25% of women have been raped or sexually assaulted, while 1 in 18 men has been raped or sexually assaulted. One in six children has been sexually abused as well.

Meanwhile, the Office of National Statistics said that about 1.1 million adults aged 16 and above experienced sexual assaults in the year ending March 2022.