People who have been raped or sexually assaulted are being urged to contact the NHS for support, as recent data shows that only one in six told a healthcare professional about the assault.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people sought specialist NHS support from a sexual assault referral centre (SARC) at the nine centres across the Midlands, yet many more could benefit from these specialist services.

The latest crime survey for England and Wales, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed that:

• one in 250 people (0.2%) aged 16 and over experienced rape or attempted rape in the last year
• one in 12 (8.1%) said that the perpetrator had choked or tried to strangle them
• almost a quarter (23.1%) of all victims were either unconscious or asleep during the most recent incident of rape

As part of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, from 2-8 February 2026, the NHS is encouraging anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted to contact a SARC, where they will receive dedicated emotional and medical support. Available across England, people can call 24/7 for an appointment and do not need to involve the police.

These specialist centres can also help with testing and assessment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, as well as offering help with accessing counselling or sexual violence support services. If a rape was recent, SARCs offer medical care, such as emergency contraception and DNA collection, if wanted.

The ONS data highlights the emotional and physical impacts of rape and sexual assault on survivors:

• 3 in 5 victims (57.7% of males and 62.5% of females) said they had suffered “mental or emotional problems” because of the assault
• 1 in 10 victims (14.8% of males and 10.4% of females) said that they had attempted to kill themselves because of the assault
• 1 in 20 (4.7%) said the perpetrator had threatened to kill them
• A third of victims (31.6%) stated that they suffered some sort of physical injury. The most common types of injuries were minor bruising or a black eye (17.3%) and scratches (12.9%)

Kate Davies, Director of Sexual Assault Services Commissioning at NHS England said:

“Our sexual assault referral centres provide specialist care and support to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted at any time in their life.  I’m urging anyone – girls, boys, women and men – who has been raped or sexually assaulted to contact their SARC for help. We know that reaching out to get help can be daunting, but the SARC team are here for you and will care for you in a place that is safe.  They will listen to you and help you think about your options and never tell you what to do.”

To find a SARC, visit www.nhs.uk/sarcs

Notes to editors

• 27,341 people sought support from a sexual assault referral centre last year (1 April 24- 30 March 2025) at the 51 centres commissioned by NHS England
• Sexual assault referral centres support the government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade
• 1 in 14 women (7.3%) have experienced rape (including attempts) since the age of 16 and 1 in 200 (0.5%) men.
• Younger people are most likely to be victims of sexual offences. Just 6% of the female population are aged 15-19 years old, but this age group accounts for 21% of police recorded sexual offences where the victim was female.