Women are more likely to be raped in London than in any other part of the UK, according to official figures here.
Statistics published by the Inspectorate of Constabulary show that 3,742 rapes were recorded in London during the 12 months to the end of March this year, up 1,302 on four years earlier.
It means that 55 out of every 100,000 people living in the capital reported a rape during the last year.
This rate is the highest in Britain and compares with a national average figure of 41 offences per 100,000 people.
It also means that the official risk of suffering a rape in London is now 52 per cent higher than four years ago.
According to the Evening Standard, an analysis of today's figures suggests that better recording of rape offences by police and measures by Scotland Yard and prosecutors to encourage victims to come forward could be factors in this rise.
Data for convictions show that 400 London rapists were found guilty or admitted their crime last year. That is up on the 379 convictions in the previous 12 months.
