Rapes Linked To Dating Websites Up Sixfold

The number of rapes linked to dating websites and apps has risen sixfold in five years.

The National Crime Agency says 184 people reported being raped by someone they met online in 2014.

This compares with 33 in 2009.

Sean Sutton, head of the NCA Serious Crimes Analysis Section, says the "pseudo-closeness" people can feel towards those they meet online is a factor.

"This pseudo-closeness can happen very, very quickly, and we are saying you could be talking to a 14-year-old boy or a 60-year-old woman," said Mr Sutton.

"Come back a step and take it on a face-to-face basis when you meet in public for the first time."

The force is launching a campaign to raise awareness about what Mr Sutton warns could be a "new breed" of rapist without previous convictions.

Figures show that while 84% of people convicted of stranger rape have a criminal record, this figure drops to 49% where the parties meet online.

Twice as many people now report being raped by someone they met online than by a bogus taxi driver - a threat that has seen a huge public awareness campaign.

More than nine million Britons have signed up to dating websites and the NCA stressed it is not claiming they are inherently dangerous.

Katie Russell, spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: "This report tells us that dating websites and apps are now established among the range of means sexual offenders use to target and access women and girls in particular.

"Through our frontline experience of providing specialist support services, we know that online grooming, of adults as well as children, is a long-standing technique among sexual violence perpetrators.

"With one in three relationships now starting online, attention clearly needs to be focused on targeting the minority who abuse dating services to perpetrate rape and other forms of sexual violence."