Topic: Sexual violence

Sexual violence includes a range of different behaviours, many of which - such as sexual assault or rape - are crimes.

Sexual abuse is often a component of domestic violence - for example, partners and former partners may use force, threats or intimidation to engage in sexual activity; they may taunt or use degrading treatment related to sexuality, force the use of pornography, or force their partners to have sex with other people.  Rape and sexual assault are crimes, whether or not they take place within marriage or between partners or ex-partners. 


 

According to the British Crime Survey, serious sexual assault is most likely to be committed by someone known to the victim (89 per cent of female and 83 per cent of male victims). Just over half (54%) of female victims reported that a partner or ex-partner had been the offender. (British Crime Survey 2005/06)

 

Only 6% of rapes reported to the police result in a successful conviction - and over two-thirds of cases are lost during the police investigation. 

View the Domestic Violence FAQs (PDF) for more information and statistics.