HAMPSHIRE police have logged a record number of sexual offences in Test Valley.  

In the year to September 2022, the constabulary recorded 410, up from 357 during the previous 12 months and the highest since equivalent records began in the year to September 2007, according to the latest figures from Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Charity Victim Support said the rise in sexual offences comes as victims' faith in the criminal justice system is failing and urged the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to "do better and start delivering justice".

It follows a trend across England, as police forces logged a record 199,021 sex crimes in the year to September, up 17 per cent on the 12 months before.

Police-recorded figures, which only include the crimes logged by the police, show 5.5 million crimes (excluding fraud) were recorded in the year to September – 13 per cent up on the 4.9 million logged the year before.

In Test Valley, 8,913 crimes were recorded by police – up by 18 per cent on the 7,557 the year before.

Chief Inspector Hayley O'Grady of Hampshire Constabulary said: “An increase in recorded crime as shown by the ONS statistics is not necessarily a negative thing. We have seen an increase in the recording of sexual offences, but this has been in part as a result of our proactive approach to encouraging victims to come forward.

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“Whilst we cannot categorically state the full reasons behind these increases, a rise in recorded crime can show that the public have greater confidence in coming forward to speak to us which we welcome. These offences can be incredibly traumatic for victims and no-one should feel reluctant to report this kind of crime."

The chief inspector reassured residents both across Andover and the wider county that the police are committed to tackling sexual offences and will do everything in their power to bring those responsible to justice. 

However, she recognised that more needs to be done to tackle this issue, which is why the Hampshire police have recently joined an expansion programme to help transform the policing response to rape and serious sexual offences.

Officers across the force will also continue to work with local authorities and commissioned services as part of their patrols in the nighttime to identify perpetrators who pose a risk.

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She added: "We have also been focused on educating the public on what constitutes a sexual offence, how they can report and the support available to them.

"Working in partnership is the key to making streets, open spaces, homes and public transport safer for all woman and girls, regardless of background or circumstances, we want women and girls to know that we are here to protect them if they need our help."

Anyone who has been the victim or a sexual offence can contact Hampshire police and speak to one of their specially trained officers in confidence on 101 or go to hampshire.police.uk/