STARK figures have revealed the dangers women in this region face at the hands of violent and sexual offenders.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to West Yorkshire Police shines a harsh spotlight on how females are disproportionately impacted by these types of crimes. Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire’s deputy mayor, said the figures are “sadly no surprise”.

It comes in the wake of a number of violent deaths, including those of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, that galvanised concerns over women’s safety. It led to vigils and protests highlighting the measures women and girls are forced to take to try and keep themselves safe, prompting thousands to share their own experiences and fears.

The data released through the FOI shows a huge disparity in the number of male and female victims. The offence of ‘violence against the person’ saw 60,757 female victims in 2018/19, compared with 44,983 male victims; 60,286 in 2019/20 compared with 43,744 and 63,363 compared with 45,355 in 2020/21.

The same picture emerges when looking at sexual offences, with 6,436 female victims in 2018/19 compared with 1,257 male victims; 6,008 in 2019/20 compared with 1,069 and 6,244 in 2020/21 compared with 1,133.

West Yorkshire Police said it “strives to treat all victims equally, ensuring that they receive the best possible care from our officers and staff”.

It added: “The force works closely with partner agencies to safeguard victims, ensuring they have access to any specialist support services that they require.”

Ms Lowe, who took on her role in August, slammed the figures as “unacceptable”.

She said: “It is sadly no surprise that there exists a significant disparity between male and female victims of sexual offences and violent crimes in West Yorkshire. We know that women and girls are disproportionately affected both locally and nationally, which is why Mayor Brabin has pledged within her election manifesto to put their safety at the core of her Policing and Crime Plan.

“Although there is a growing recognition of the various issues, we cannot change these trends in isolation. We must look towards a concerted partnership response, fundamentally addressing behaviours of men and their attitudes towards women and girls, which means looking at education and culture, as well as the enforcement approach. By working together, we can begin to reverse these unacceptable figures and change the experiences of women and girls.”