Sexual offences committed by migrants in Britain have risen sharply in recent years, outpacing the growth of such crimes committed by British citizens.
New figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), using data from the Police National Computer, reveal that migrants made up 14.1% of all sexual offence and rape convictions in 2024—roughly one in seven cases. While that percentage is close to the overall proportion of foreign-born residents in the UK, the increase among migrants has been much steeper than among British nationals.
Between 2021 and 2024, convictions of foreign nationals for sexual offences rose from 687 to 1,114—a jump of more than 60%. In comparison, convictions among British citizens grew by 39%, from 4,409 to 6,142 over the same period.
The rise was particularly notable among certain groups. Convictions among the seven nationalities most commonly crossing the English Channel illegally—Afghans, Eritreans, Iranians, Iraqis, Sudanese, Syrians, and Vietnamese—more than doubled (up 110%) since 2021.
In terms of raw conviction numbers in 2024, the highest were:
- Indians: 100 convictions
- Romanians: 92
- Poles: 83
- Pakistanis: 56
- Afghans: 43
- Sudanese: 37
- Bangladeshis: 34
- Portuguese: 33
It’s worth noting that these figures don’t include individuals from these ethnic groups who have since gained British citizenship or were born in the UK to migrant parents.
The MoJ cautioned that the data can be misleading. A single offender may have committed multiple crimes, and the statistics only record their “primary” nationality, meaning those with dual citizenship may be classified differently. Still, the findings have sparked calls for more transparent reporting on crime by nationality and immigration status.
The Centre for Migration Control, which obtained the figures via a Freedom of Information request, argued that the apparent disparities should directly influence government immigration policies. Its research director, Robert Bates, called for a potential “red list” to limit immigration from nationalities showing higher crime rates.
Political figures also weighed in. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said:
“This country has a serious and growing crime problem with its own people, which makes importing foreign-born criminals all the more stupid. Foreign sex offenders are becoming one of the most important political issues in Britain.”
The issue has already fueled public anger, with recent protests breaking out near hotels housing asylum seekers. One case in Epping, Essex, where a 14-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted by an illegal migrant from Ethiopia, led to the High Court ordering the closure of the local migrant hotel.
With more than 30,000 migrants currently being housed in hotels across Britain, councils and local communities are pushing back, and the government now faces pressure to overhaul the system while also preparing for further legal battles.
