§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) rapes and (b) serious sexual assaults were recorded in each police authority area in England and Wales in each of the last 20 years. [140485]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe number of rapes and serious sexual assaults recorded in each police authority area in each of the last 20 years is given in tables 1 and 2, available in the Library.
Since 1981, these offences have more than doubled. Much of this rise, however, is thought to be attributable to both an increase in reporting by the public and changes in police practice.