By The National Crime Agency

The National Crime Agency’s Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS) has identified a significant increase in the number of reports to UK police forces about serious sexual assaults carried out by strangers that have been initiated through online dating. Reports indicate that these offences took place during the first face-to-face meeting between the victim and the offender after they initially met online. This emerging threat appears to be a result of the increasing popularity of online dating – including free and subscription services, dating websites, apps and ‘hook up’ services- combined with the behaviours and expectations fostered by an online environment. Early analysis indicates that the online dating phenomenon has produced a new type of sexual offender. These offenders are less likely to have criminal convictions, but instead exploit the ease of access and arm-chair approach to dating websites. This is aided by potential victims not thinking of them as strangers, but someone they have got to know. In many ways, the advent of dating web sites has made finding relationships a more convenient, easier and potentially less daunting affair for many. One in three relationships now start online and 7 million UK users are registered with online dating sites . The Online Dating Association (ODA) predicts that the number of internet dating sites and the number of individuals using them will rise and a similar increase in the use of dating apps and hook up sites is also predicted. In general, these online dating platforms offer relatively safe and positive opportunities for individuals to meet prospective partners. However, the observed increase in offences arising from them is still one that is substantial. Its significance strengthens when considered within the context of the levels of underreporting of rape offences, which is generally accepted at being only 17% of the true figure.

London: National Crime Agency, 2016. 15p.