Cambridge sees record number of rapes reported

A 25% increase in rape incidents reported to Cambridgeshire police is leaving authorities worried and students shocked.

Over 1000 rape incidents have been reported in the last 4 years, with 226 in the last year alone.

Alarmingly, one child as young as ten has been arrested in connection with an assault.

The Cambridgeshire Constabulary has launched a “Get Closer” campaign aimed at “making the invisible visible”, whereby they hope to transfer the fear of crime from public to offenders.

Recorded rape cases rose 25%

They are also collaborating with the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to help victims as much as possible, and there is also a chance to self-refer to the SARC for people who wish not to contact the police.

However, police are urging as many victims as possible to inform them of crimes committed.

Hannah Wilkinson, a History student at King’s, said these figures highlight the importance of sexual consent workshops held for freshers this year by over half the colleges: “There needs to be a culture where we can talk about this sort of thing so that victims don’t feel afraid.”

Last term’s survey found half of all sexual assault happened in clubs

Since 2012, Cambridge police force has also had a dedicated Rape Investigation team to combat these increasing incidents, which statistically are most likely to target young people between the ages of 12 and 25.

This news comes shortly after last term’s shocking survey results on sexual assault.