ONLY three per cent of sexual offences linked to dating apps in West Yorkshire have resulted in charges or summons, new figures show.

Data from a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act sent to West Yorkshire Police showed there were 182 sexual offences reported where Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Grindr or “dating app” appeared on the record in the past five years.

The amount of crimes has risen over the years, with a slight drop of five per cent between 2021 and 2022 – from 42 to 40.

Overall, sexual offences related to dating apps have substantially increased since 2017 – more than doubling in amount, with a rise of 167 per cent.

Just seven of the 182 recorded crimes have ended up with action at the end of the investigation so far – five charges or summons and two adult cautions issued.

There are currently 18 ongoing investigations.

The reasons for a lack of action in the other cases include: evidential difficulties in terms of identifying a suspect during the investigation, no suspect identified once the investigation is complete, or further investigation not in the public interest.

The most prominent sexual offence which is related to dating apps is harassment (34 per cent), followed by rape of a female aged 16 and over (28 per cent) and then stalking (13 per cent).

Shockingly, there were eight recorded crimes of sexual activity involving a child under 13, two examples of rape of a male child under 16 and one offence of rape of a female child under 16.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Over the last five years there has been an increase in sexual offences recorded, some of which will be as a result of improved crime recording but also due to recent, well-publicised national cases which have given victims the confidence to report crimes knowing that their reports will be taken seriously.

“These offences may have taken place many years before the survivor of abuse feels able to report the matter to the police.

“Any non-recent reports receive the same level of investigation and response from specialist officers in West Yorkshire Police as recent reports do.

“Crimes are recorded within the yearly data of the time they get reported however the offence reflects the age of the victim at the time of the offence. 

“West Yorkshire Police has a duty to safeguard members of the public and ensure that they can live in an environment free of stalking and harassment.

“We take reports of stalking very seriously and recognise that stalking can also take place online or through the use of technology.

“Stalking is a form of harassing behaviour, whereby the perpetrator is fixated or obsessed with the victim.

“These cases are typified by the disproportionate investment of time and resource which the perpetrator undertakes in pursuit of their objective.

“These behaviours will have a substantial adverse effect on the victim’s life.”