Latest news with #acidattacks
Sky News
6 days ago
- Sky News
Acid attacks rise in UK - with 25% of them in an area that's home to just 2% of the population
The number of acid attacks has risen 10% in a year, according to a Freedom of Information request to UK police forces. Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) said its analysis shows 498 physical attacks involving corrosive substances were recorded in 2024 - compared with 454 in the previous year. According to the charity, the real figure is likely to be even higher because of under-reporting by victims. In 2023, both Northumbria Police and the Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of physical attacks - 18% and 16% respectively. But figures in 2024 showed a significant fall in attacks in London, dropping by 78%, while cases in Northumbria rose substantially. ASTI executive director Jaf Shah told Sky News that attacks in Northumbria account for almost 25% of the nationwide total - despite making up just 2% of the population. He explained: "Historically, London has always seen the highest number attacks, which is unsurprising because of the population. But what we've seen in the 2024 data is a massive drop in the number of attacks in London to just 16. "Whereas in Northumbria we've seen a 49% increase to 121 attacks, so there's a massive disparity in terms of numbers, especially relative to population figures for each of those corresponding areas. So this is obviously a very worrying trend." 1:26 Mr Shah added there was supporting evidence about the type of attacks taking place in the Northumbria force area. "Professor Francisco Figueiredo, who is head of ophthalmology at Newcastle University ... certainly picked up on an increase of young men receiving treatment with corrosive injuries in the eye. "A lot of the injuries he's treated are related to the use of ammonia ... that's quite different to some of the attacks we've seen in other parts of the UK where sulphuric acid is commonly used." West Midlands Police also recorded a significant increase in attacks - rising 82% between 2023 and 2024 - and making up 12% of the UK total. ASTI states the FOI data reveals acid attacks in the UK are historically associated with male-on-male violence and often linked to gang activity. Of the 224 physical attacks where gender data was recorded, a third of victims were female, reflecting the increasing use of acid as a weapon of violence against women and girls. 2:43 ASTI also commissioned research, conducted by Frontier Economics, which concluded that the financial impact of all acid attacks in 2024 was more than £31m. The study estimated that a single attack costs £63,000, consisting of the medical and psychological support victims require and paying for the criminal justice system to deal with perpetrators. ASTI also told Sky News it was recommending reforms to tackle the "lack of robust checks on sales of corrosives", especially via online retailers. Acid attack 'devastates lives' Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for corrosive substances, said an attack "devastates lives and causes physical and psychological damage to victims that can last a lifetime" and officers were committed "to tackle this appalling crime". In a statement, he added: "Many corrosive substances are available over the counter at supermarkets and DIY stores. "It is important that law enforcement and government work closely with retailers themselves, to enhance our intelligence picture, and determine the best ways to keep these products from falling into the hands of people who intend to use them to cause harm. "Serious crimes such as this should not go unreported and we want victims to feel able to come forward and report these matters to us."
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Acid attacks skyrocket by 10% as campaigners warn of rise in violence against women and girls
An alarming rise in acid attacks has been recorded across the UK, with women and girls now accounting for a third of all victims. Data from police forces show 498 physical attacks involving corrosives were recorded in 2024, a 10 per cent increase from the 454 incidents reported in 2023. Research carried out by the charity Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) found that such attacks not only have devastating impacts on the victims, but result in a considerable cost to the economy. On average, a single attack can cost £63,000 in medical and psychological support, meaning that the overall average cost of these physical attacks in 2024 would be in the regions of £31m. While historically, acid attacks have been associated with male-on-male violence and gang activity, data from police forces revealed that 74 victims out of 224 physical attacks, where gender data was provided, were female. In addition, women made up 62 per cent of victims when there had been a threat of an acid attack made against them, an increase from 59 per cent in 2023. This involves the threat of a corrosive attack as a tool of coercion or intimidation alongside other serious crimes such as rape or robbery. Despite the population served by Northumbria Police making up just two per cent of the country's population, 24 per cent of all acid attacks were recorded in the region, followed by the Metropolitan Police in London. Jaf Shah, Executive Director at ASTI, said: 'Our new data shows that acid violence remains prevalent in the UK. The rise in physical acid attacks is deeply concerning – particularly the sharp increase in Northumbria, even as numbers fall in London. 'Tackling this issue means addressing the wider challenges of socio-economic inequality, deprivation, and gang involvement, while also holding retailers to account. 'It's vital we address how easily offenders are able to access corrosive substances in the first place. We urgently need stricter controls on sales, especially from online retailers, alongside better reporting and more investment in prevention to stop corrosive substances being weaponised.' The analysis from ASTI found that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of acid attacks were recorded by Northumbria Police, despite the region only holding two per cent of the UK's population. The West Midlands has also seen an 82 per cent increase in the number of physical attacks between 2023 and 2024, with the charity noting that attacks frequently occur in areas that have been impacted by economic deprivation and high levels of poverty. Professor Francisco C Figueiredo, MD, PhD, FRCOphth, Professor of Ophthalmology at Newcastle University, said: 'Corrosive substance attack (CSA) to the eye is a serious injury that can cause substantial damage, potentially leading to significant visual loss/blindness. 'In our data, the most serious injuries tend to be on victims of attack, often young white male. The evidence also indicates that most of the attacks take place in deprived areas. 'Further building on the information released by ASTI, our data has also shown an alarming rise in the Northeast of England in the incidence of CSA over the last few years. In our region, the most common corrosive substance used in attacks is ammonia, which tends to cause significant damage to the surface of the eye, penetrating deeper into the tissue, consequently causing more severe damage. 'In view of this new data, there is an urgent need to create a strong partnership between multiple public health agencies which can work together towards a shared goal by setting up an elimination programme with clear targets. It is time to make elimination of corrosive substance attack our goal.'
