THE number of recorded rapes against adults and children in West Yorkshire has gone up in the last five years.

Fewer cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, although the number of prosecutions and convictions increased.

Compared to the rest of England and Wales, the county recorded more rapes per 100,000 of population.

The figures are in a new report from the Rape Monitoring Group which looks at how rape cases are dealt with at all stages of the criminal justice process.

The data shows that in 2009-10 in West Yorkshire there were 386 recorded rapes against adults and 279 against children. In 2013-14, these figures were 583 and 405. Referrals to CPS went down from 305 to 241. Charges went up from 123 to 176.

In trial outcomes, there were 102 prosecutions in 2009-10 compared to 154 in 2013-14. Conviction figures were 52 and 65.

In England and Wales, there were 9,383 recorded rapes in 2009-10 and 12,952 in 2013-14. West Yorkshire had more recorded rapes per 100,000 of population than the rest of the country. In 2009-10 the figures were 21 for West Yorkshire compared to 20. By 2013-14 these had risen to 32 and 28.

Dru Sharpling, chairman of the Rape Monitoring Group, said: “Accurate and extensive data enables those working with rape cases to improve opportunities to identify and bring to justice perpetrators of rape.”