BETWEEN January and June 2026, Devon and Cornwall Police brought about the conviction of 138 perpetrators of sexual offences, 55 of which were for rape.

The 55 perpetrators convicted carried out 99 rapes between them, and have been sentenced to nearly 400 years’ imprisonment in total.

Chief Inspector Zoe Taylor said: “These results show just how dedicated Devon and Cornwall Police is to getting justice for victims of sexual violence and removing violent perpetrators from the streets.

“It takes a lot of courage to report crimes of this nature, not least because victims will be severely traumatised by what has happened to them.

“It’s important that people report serious and violent crime and get the support they need from both police and our partner agencies, such as Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and the Victim Care Unit (VCU).

“Any report will be taken seriously and victims will be listened to, believed and supported.

“We will remain proactive in seeking out and arresting perpetrators of serious and violent sexual offences.”

Rape survivor, Penny (not her real name) said: “Reporting rape was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also one of the most important.

“In those first moments, the officers who responded listened to me, believed me about what had happened and made me feel that I was doing the right thing by reporting as I was filled with so much doubt, fear, confusion and the unknown of what would happen.

“After everything I’d been through, that validation of what had just happened meant more than I can put into words. As victims we doubt our reality and it helped me realise that what had happened to me mattered, had happened, was not right and that my voice deserved to be heard.

“The process that followed was long and emotionally challenging, but I was incredibly fortunate to have an amazing Independent Sexual Violence Advisor who supported me throughout and helped me keep going.

“I would strongly encourage anyone who has experienced rape or sexual violence to report. Having your experience acknowledged can be the first step towards justice and healing. Your experience and voice matter.”

Penny’s attacker was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Sarah West, Victim Care Unit Manager, added: “The Victim Care Unit is here to help anyone who has been a victim of any type of crime.

“Every victim of crime has the right to be offered support and the Victim Care Unit can refer victims for ongoing support to a number of independent support services.

“A Victim Care Officer will take the time to discuss how the person has been impacted without asking them to repeat details of what happened.

“This support is confidential and free. I would urge any victim of crime to contact the service no matter when the crime happened.”

To find information about how and where to get help, and how to report, visit Devon and Cornwall Police’s website.