Acid attacks increase by 69% in England and Wales with more women than men victims

Incidents of acid attack have increased by 69% last year and female victims have exceeded male victims in number for the first time. According to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), 710 acid attacks were recorded in England and Wales last year, compared to 421 in 2021. The charity has said that the real number may be much higher as many "key police forces", including Police Scotland and Thames Valley Police, did not respond to its Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for the data.

Declining numbers

ASTI has also said that the attacks have been declining following a peak in 2017. It can cause instant and excruciating pain and can leave victims with life-changing disabilities. The charity said that 941 cases were recorded cases in 2017 as it dropped from 2021. It was partly due to the Offensive Weapons Act and the introduction of stricter controls on the availability of acid and other corrosive substances.

710 Acid attacks in 2022

But the cases of acid attack increased last year, it recorded 710 attacks, including 339 women and 317 men, gender of 48 victim remains unknown. But, of 2021 attacks, 172 were against women and 227 on men. It has also been found that the highest number of attacks was recorded in Northumbria (183), followed by London (163) and Merseyside (116).

Economic cost of acid attacks

ASTI also said that each acid attack costs GBP63,000 in terms of the medical and psychosocial report victims require. Besides, the victim also has to bear the cots to the police, the judicial and penal systems.The total conomic cost of all the attacks in 2022 was more than GBP 44million.

Talking to Sky News, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alexis Boon QPM, NPCC lead for corrosive substances, said: "The use of corrosive substances to commit crime devastates lives, often inflicting serious injuries and causing psychological trauma to survivors that will last a lifetime.

FAQs:

How many incidents of acid attack have been reported in 2022?
According to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI), 710 acid attacks were recorded in England and Wales in 2022, compared to 421 in 2021.

What is the economic cost of acid attacks?
ASTI also said that each acid attack costs GBP63,000 in terms of the medical and psychosocial report victims require. The total conomic cost of all the attacks in 2022 was more than GBP 44million.