FOI 551/25
REQUEST
- The number of reported incidents of:
- Rape or attempted rape (Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act)
- Sexual assault by penetration (Section 2 of the Sexual Offences Act)
- Sexual assault (Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act)
- Stalking (Section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act)
- Harassment (Section 2a of the Protection from Harassment Act)
where the free text associated with the incident report contains any of the following the words:
'online dating', 'internet dating’, 'tinder', 'bumble', 'feeld', 'match.com', ‘hinge’, 'eharmony’, ‘dating app’ or 'plenty of fish’
We would like this information for 1 Jan 2024 to 31 December 2024 (1 year), or the most recent 12 month period available.
- Of all the reported incidents of sexual assault, rape, and stalking (etc) made to your constabulary in the most recent 12-month period, what proportion involved cases where the victim first met or connected with the perpetrator through a dating app?
RESPONSE
A search has been conducted using our crime and incident reporting system (NICHE RMS) for all crimes recorded between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024 using the Home Office (HO) codes below:
- 17A/17/13: Sexual assault on a male by penetration (S.2 SOA 2003)
- 17A/17/15: Sexual assault on a male (S.3 SOA 2003)
- 19C/19/12: Attempted rape of female aged 16 or over (S.1(pt) SOA 2003)
- 19C/19/8: Rape of a female aged 16 or over (S1pt SOA 2003)
- 19D/19/11: Attempted rape of female aged under 16 (S.1(pt) SOA 2003)|
- 19D/19/7: Rape of a female aged under 16 (S1pt SOA 2003)
- 19F/19/10: Rape of a male aged 16 or over (S.1(pt) SOA 2003)
- 19F/19/14: Attempt Rape Male Aged 16 Or Over (S.1(pt)SOA 2003)
- 19G/19/13: Attempted rape of male aged under 16 (S.1(pt) SOA 2003)
- 19G/19/9: Rape of a male aged under 16 (S1pt SOA 2003)
- 20A/20/3: Sexual assault on a female by penetration (SOA 2003 S2)
- 20A/20/5: Sexual assault on a female (SOA 2003 S.3)
- 8L/195/94: Protection from Harassment Act Sec 2. (S.2 Protection from Harassment Act 1997)
- 8Q/195/12/PH97006: Pursue course of conduct which amounts to stalking. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012)
- 8Q/8/65: Stalking involving fear of violence. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012)
- 8Q/8/66: Stalking involving serious alarm / distress. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012)
A further search was conducted on these results for the following key words within the occurrence summary *online dating*|*internet dating*|*tinder*|*bumble*|*feeld*|*match.com*|*hinge*|*eharmony*|*dating app*|*plenty of fish*
Question 1
|
Home Office Class |
Total |
|
Protection from Harassment Act Sec 2. (S.2 Protection from Harassment Act 1997) |
6 |
|
Pursue course of conduct which amounts to stalking. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
9 |
|
Rape of a female aged 16 or over (S1pt SOA 2003) |
2 |
|
Sexual assault on a female (SOA 2003 S.3) |
2 |
|
Stalking involving fear of violence. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
1 |
|
Stalking involving serious alarm / distress. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
3 |
|
Grand Total |
23 |
Question 2
Each of the occurrences retrieved in question 1 have been individually interrogated in order to establish if the victim first met or connected with the perpetrator through a dating app.
|
Home Office Class |
Total |
|
Protection from Harassment Act Sec 2. (S.2 Protection from Harassment Act 1997) |
5 |
|
Pursue course of conduct which amounts to stalking. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
5 |
|
Rape of a female aged 16 or over (S1pt SOA 2003) |
2 |
|
Sexual assault on a female (SOA 2003 S.3) |
2 |
|
Stalking involving fear of violence. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
1 |
|
Stalking involving serious alarm / distress. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Protection of Freedom Act 2012) |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
16
|
Please note that this data has been gathered by searching our records management system for offences containing the keywords *online dating*|*internet dating*|*tinder*|*bumble*|*feeld*|*match.com*|*hinge*|*eharmony*|*dating app*|*plenty of fish* respectively for the relevant time period. The results retrieved are dependent on how the information has been entered onto the system. As such, the information provided should not be considered statistically accurate and/or definitive and therefore, care should be taken when using for any further statistical, analytical or evaluative purposes.
South Wales Police continues to prioritise its response to allegations of sexual offences and actively encourages victims to have confidence in reporting these crimes. Our focus, together with our partner agencies is firmly on victim’s needs and improving outcomes whilst increasing the number of offenders brought to justice. South Wales Police have dedicated rape investigation teams, consisting of 114 staff through the force. South Wales Police were a pathfinder force for Operation Soteria and we remain committed to embedding the national operating model to improve our service to victims and judicial outcomes for suspects.
Staff who deal with cases of this nature undertake a comprehensive training and accreditation process to ensure a professional investigation and the best outcome for victims.