Reports of sexual crimes increased sharply in 2024 – among other things because more behavior has become punishable

In the second half of last year, the police reported considerably more often of a sexual crime. From July to December 2024, that number even increased by 16 percent compared to that period in previous years.

This is apparent from annual figures from the National Police. In total, the police registered 14,802 reports of sexual offenses last year, almost 800 more than in 2023 (14,015). Reports may come from a victim who reports a criminal offense, but also from, for example, a local police officer, local resident or teacher who is worried. The precise number of reports of sexual violence was 3,567 last year. 3,151 declarations were made in 2023.

The increase coincides with the new sexual crimes Act, which came into effect on July 1 last year. An important part is the change in the assault and rape delicity. It is no longer central (the evidence of) coercion, but the lack of will. Someone is now punishable if the person knows or should know that the other person does not want sex. Sex must be voluntary and take place with mutual consent.

Whether the increase in reported sexual crimes is the result of the new law, according to Caroline Monster, head of the national expertise team sexual crimes of the National Police, is still unclear. According to her, the increase can also be related to the social attention for the introduction of the new law. For example, a government campaign started on July 1, 2024 and sexual violence and cross-border behavior were given a lot of media attention.

“We saw a similar increase in reports in 2022 after the broadcast of ANGRY About abuses at The Voice of Holland. That then led to great social indignation and the start of the National Action Program for sexual violence and sexual cross -border behavior. The current increase could therefore also have to do with the information campaign and attention in the media, « says Monster.

Sexchatting

« The Public Prosecution Service ultimately decides whether certain conduct can actually be qualified and prosecuted without an assault or rape without coercion, » says Monster. The first criminal cases that use the new moral legislation are expected this spring.

The increase in reports also partly has to do with the fact that since 1 July 2024 more behaviors have been punishable. For example, sexual harassment is now punishable: someone in public in a public approach with comments, gestures, sounds or touches on fearing, humiliating, hurtful or inconsistent way. In 2024, 298 incidents were reported to the police of sexual harassment in public. 63 reports involved online sexual harassment and in 235 the offline variant, also called 'street intimidation'.

One of the goals of the new law is to better protect children against online sexual abuse

An adult who approaches children sexually (sex chatting) is now also punishable. The police received 131 reports of sexchatting. « One of the goals of the new law is to better protect children against online sexual abuse, » says Monster. « By criminating sex cheeling, we can also act with the OM now against someone who does exchanged sexually tinted messages, but does not try to meet a child or young person. This often concerns larger things. Then there is one report, but a lot of victims. ”

Like other police departments, the vice police have great difficulty filling or keeping all vacancies filled. The actual occupation has been declining for years. In 2022, 672 agents worked in indeed teams, now 647: 60 less than the number of permitted formation places.

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