Acid attacks skyrocket by 10% as campaigners warn of rise in violence against women and girls
A worrying increase in acid attacks throughout the UK has been increased, women and girls are currently one -third of all victims.
The data obtained from the police forces show that 498 physical attacks containing corrosives, which were reported in 2024, were recorded in 2024, which was reported in 2024.
Studies conducted by Charity Acid Survivers Trust International (ASTI) found that such attacks have not only resulted in a significant cost to the economy, not only the destructive effects of victims, but also to the economy.
On average, a single attack can cost £ 63,000 to medical and psychological support, ie the total average cost of these physical attacks in 2024 will be £ 31 million.
Historically, while acid attacks were associated with male-male violence and gang activity, the data obtained from the police forces revealed that 74 of the 224 physical attacks in which gender data were provided were women.
In addition, women constituted 62 percent of the victims when there was a threat of acid attack, which increased from 59 percent in 2023. This involves a threat of an abrasive attack as a means of coercion or intimidation as well as other serious crimes such as rape or robbery.
Despite the population of the Northumbria police, which constitutes only two percent of the country’s population, 24 percent of all acid attacks were recorded in the region and followed by the metropolitan police in London.
AS ASTE General Manager Jaf Shah said: ız Our new data shows that acid severity is common in the UK. The increase in physical acid attacks is deeply concerned about the sharp increase in Northumbria, especially if the numbers in London are falling.
“To overcome this problem, it means taking into account retailers, while taking into account the wider difficulties of socio-economic inequality, deprivation and gang participation.
“It is very important for us to consider how easily criminals can access abrasive substances in the first place. In addition to better reporting and prevention investment to stop the armament of corrosive substances, we need more strict controls especially in online retailers.”
In the analysis of ASTI, although only two percent of the British population in the hands of the Northumbria police, almost one quarter (24 percent) acid attack was recorded.
West Midlands also saw an increase of 82 percent in the number of physical attacks between 2023 and 2024, and charity was frequently affected by the levels of economic deprivation and high poverty.
Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Newcastle, Professor Francisco C Figueredo, MD, PHD, Frcophth, Newcastle, said: “The eye -catching substance attack (CSA) is a serious injury that may cause significant damage to a significant vision/blindness.
“In our data, the most serious injuries tend to be on the victims of attack, usually young white male. Evidence also shows that most of the attacks take place in deprived regions.
“Our data, which has more buildings for information published by ASTI, has shown an worrying increase in the northeast of England in the incidence of CSA for the last few years. In our region, the most common corrosive substance used in attacks is the tendency to cause significant damage to the eye surface, which causes deeper damage to the tissue.
“Considering these new data, there is an urgent need to create a strong partnership between multiple public health institutions that can work together by creating a qualifying program with open goals.
