Sexually Exploited Women Report 62% Rise In Sexual Violence During Covid Pandemic
Sexually exploited women and sex workers reported a 62% increase in sexual violence during the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic, a leading charity has found.
Yet not a single offence reported to police by the women helped by Changing Lives has resulted in a conviction for nearly two years.
Data collected by the charity, which supports vulnerable people facing housing insecurity, also found a marked increase in repeat victimisation, with women experiencing multiple crimes against them – including sexual violence, physical violence and domestic abuse.
The shocking study used information from the charity’s services, which support more than 1,850 women across the north-east, Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Amid calls for home secretary Priti Patel to do more to support women amid lockdown restrictions, the charity also said there was reason to believe the figure could be higher in other parts of the country.
Sexually exploited women in the north-east reported a 179% increase in sexual violence, where the charity believes confidence in reporting to the police force could be higher.
Jennifer Harrison, head of policy and public affairs at Changing Lives, was among the contributors to the charity’s new report “Nowhere To Turn”.
She said: “We are concerned that this increase does not reflect the true extent of the sexual violence and abuse happening in our communities.
“For example, in the north-east there has been an increase of 179% and we believe this is closer to the reality of women’s experiences because there has been a sustained commitment and investment in multi-agency working across this area.
“In 2013, Northumbria Police created a dedicated liaison officer role trained in supporting people selling sex and adults exposed to sexual exploitation. Over time, this model is shown to have increased women’s confidence to disclose crimes to services and report crimes to police.”
The charity said the women surveyed were already at increased risk of...