Last week, crime figures released by the police showed an overall fall of 15% in crime for 2013 across England and Wales. But the overall figures hide an increase of 20% in recorded rapes and a 17% rise in sexual offences since 2013.
In Islington the situation is even worse, with an increase of over 23% in cases of rape between 2013 and 2014.
The police classification of rape and sexual assault as separate from violent crime fails to acknowledge that rape is itself a crime of violence. It suggests that these crimes, predominantly against women and girls, may be viewed as less important by the police.
Given that the police is overwhelmingly male-dominated, there may be institutional sexism at work here.
Rape is about power and oppression. The impact of these crimes on victims is severe and long-lasting. Increasing the number of police officers does little, by itself, to prevent these crimes as they often take place in the home.
It is still unclear how the police intend to act to prevent and prosecute these crimes of violence.
Central Government cuts by the Tories and Lib Dems, which the Labour Party has said it would adhere to, mean that at a time of rising violence against women and girls, support services for victims will be cut.
These statistics* show a silent epidemic of rape and abuse of women in our borough. We in Islington Green Party are resolute on this issue, that we all need to stand against ‘rape culture’. We call on local councillors and MPs to do the same, by ensuring that all Islington services for the victims of sexual violence and domestic violence are guaranteed protection from the cuts.
*Metropolitan Police, latest Crime Figures for Islington
An earlier version of this post stated that the incidence of rape had increased 30% in Islington in the year to March 2014. This has now been corrected, to 23%.
