Statistical Publication - Cases Involving Sexual Offences 2025-26

Date:

This Bulletin presents key statistics for the 2025/26 financial year (i.e., 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) and includes comparisons with the 2024/25 financial year. It provides a statistical overview of all sexual offences, including an analysis of cases involving rape.

Key findings

  • The PPS received a total of 1,645 files involving a sexual offence. This was an increase of 2.0% on 2024/25 (1,613). There was a decrease of 8.8% in the number of files received involving an offence of rape, from 616 to 562.
  • Files received included a total of 1,702 suspects, 581 of whom were charged or reported for rape (a decrease of 7.8% on 2024/25) and 1,121 were in respect of other sexual offences (an increase of 7.5%).
  • 1,714 prosecutorial decisions were issued by the PPS in respect of suspects in cases involving sexual offences. The Test for Prosecution was met in respect of 35.0% of decisions, which included 600 decisions for prosecution or diversion from the courts. At 35.0%, the percentage of decisions meeting the Test represents an increase from 2024/25 (31.6%).
  • Of the 1,114 no prosecution decisions issued during 2025/26, the vast majority (99.5%) did not pass the evidential test. The remaining 0.5% did not pass the public interest test.
  • Median days for the issue of indictable prosecution decisions (prosecution in the Crown Court) in cases involving sexual offences was 141 calendar days (133 days in 2024/25). Median days for summary prosecution decisions (prosecution in the Magistrates’ or Youth Courts) was 55 days (37 in 2024/25).
  • A total of 207 defendants were dealt with in the Crown Court in cases involving sexual offences. The overall conviction rate was 75.4% compared with 74.1% in 2024/25.
  • Sixty defendants were dealt with in the Crown Court for an offence of rape and forty-three (71.7%) of these were convicted of at least one offence (i.e., any offence). Eighteen defendants (30.0%) were convicted of an offence of rape.
  • A total of 202 defendants were dealt with in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts for a sexual offence during 2025/26. The overall conviction rate was 68.3% compared with 73.3% in 2024/25.