**Sexual Offences Surge in Wales: New Data Reveals Regional Hotspots and Alarming Prevalence**
The number of sexual offences recorded in Wales has risen sharply during the past year, as newly released figures underline the extent of sexual violence, domestic abuse, and stalking affecting both women and men across the country. Official statistics now estimate that as many as one in eight women and one in twelve men aged 16 or over experienced some form of these crimes in the last twelve months—a total exceeding five million adults throughout England and Wales.
These revelations coincide with the release of fresh Home Office data showing that police recorded 10,577 sexual offences in Wales alone in the year leading up to March 2025, comprising an increase of 1,113 incidents over the previous year. These offences, which include both rape and sexual assault, signify an 11 percent year-on-year rise.
The capital, Cardiff, saw more sexual offences reported than any other area, with South Wales Police recording a total of 1,238 cases. The nearby Cwm Taf Community Safety Partnership, which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, followed with 948 incidents. Swansea also featured prominently, recording 857 sexual offences during the same period.
However, analysts point out that comparing raw numbers between regions with varying population sizes can obscure the true picture. When examining crime rates—the number of sexual offences per 1,000 residents—it is Denbighshire in North Wales that emerges as the area with the highest prevalence. Although North Wales Police reported 441 sexual offences there last year, the county’s smaller population sees this translate to a rate of 4.6 offences for every 1,000 residents. Put differently, roughly one in 219 people in Denbighshire was affected by a sex crime in 2024–25, making it the community with the highest such rate in Wales and the 26th highest among all UK regional partnerships.
Other locations with high rates of sexual offences include Conwy, with a crime rate of 4.2 offences per 1,000 people, and Torfaen, where 381 crimes correspond to a rate of 4.1. Despite its large overall number of cases, Cardiff’s rate stands at 3.3 per 1,000 residents—a level amounting to one in every 301 people.
While these statistics stem from crimes formally reported to the police, new estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) paint a broader, and perhaps more troubling, landscape. Drawing from the annual Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), these figures account for unreported incidents by pooling responses from face-to-face interviews about experiences of crime. Notably, the ONS’s combined measure includes not only sexual assault but also domestic abuse and stalking, casting light on episodes that might never reach the authorities or result in prosecution.
The resulting national picture is bleak, with more than three million women and two million men estimated to have suffered one or more of these offences in the last year. Campaigners and advocacy groups insist the numbers only begin to reflect the true extent of the issue. Rebecca Hitchen, head of policy and campaigns at the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), warns that the newly introduced measure “fails to capture the full spectrum” of gender-based violence. Concerns include the exclusion of online harassment, so-called honour-based abuse, and the experiences of marginalised groups, including Black, minoritised, and migrant women.
“This narrower approach still yields stark findings, with an estimated one in eight women experiencing a form of domestic abuse, stalking or sexual assault in a single year,” Hitchen observed. She called for a transparent and inclusive consultation process to redefine government measurements and to shape more effective policy responses.
The increase in recorded offences may be partially attributed to changing social attitudes. Observers suggest growing public confidence in the police and a greater willingness to report crimes, rather than a straightforward surge in incidents, could underlie some of the rise. At the same time, campaigners stress that despite increased awareness, many victims remain reluctant to come forward due to fear, stigma or lack of trust in the system.
As this troubling trend continues, organisations and local authorities across Wales are being urged to intensify efforts to support survivors, prevent future offences, and ensure the government’s response comprehensively addresses the evolving and complex nature of these crimes. The call for action remains clear: with prevalence rates among the highest in the UK, Welsh communities find themselves at the sharp end of a nationwide crisis demanding urgent and sustained attention.