Haringey Intensifies Efforts to Combat Rise in Sexual Offences
Haringey is intensifying its efforts to combat a rise in sexual offences, with a detailed review of the data underway to understand the contributing factors and ensure effective investigations.
At a recent Haringey Community Safety Partnership meeting, Superintendent Hannah Hayes, Chair of the Partnership, acknowledged an increase in reported sexual offences. While this could indicate greater confidence in reporting mechanisms, she expressed concern that it might reflect a genuine rise in incidents. The data indicates that sexual offending is up by nine percent overall, with stalking and harassment seeing a significant 14 percent rise, though this increase is partly attributed to crime recording matters.
Superintendent Hayes noted that while increased reporting can signal greater confidence in the system, there was a perception of an uptick in sexual offences, particularly in open areas. She elaborated that sexual offences, like hate crime, are areas the authorities actively encourage reporting for, given their historically under-reported nature. Therefore, an increase in reports can sometimes be viewed positively as a sign of increased trust in the investigating process, but it also warrants investigation to determine if it indicates a genuine rise in incidents.
To support these efforts, Haringey is commissioning specialist services to provide support for over 300 victim survivors, offering advocacy, accommodation, and support pathways as part of its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) initiatives. Furthermore, the SWASE (Sex workers and at risk of sexual exploitation) panel has been extended and has aided in developing safety plans for more than 20 women.
The Partnership is committed to a thorough review of the data, with a particular focus on positive outcome rates to ensure investigations are effective. The Hate Crime team, in parallel efforts, encourages all residents and communities to report hate crime to the Police via 101 or the online reporting form, reinforcing the message that reporting is crucial for addressing these issues.
More details on the community safety partnership's work can be found in the Public reports pack from the meeting on 08th October 2026.