In the first six months of this year, the police received nearly 8,000 reports of sexual offenses, which is over 1,100 (+17 percent) more than in the first half of 2024. The number of complaints resulting from such reports increased even more sharply: it rose by 27 percent, from nearly 1,600 in the first six months of 2024 to over 2,000 in the same period this year.
Willingness
Whether there is actually an increase in the number of sexual offenses is difficult to say, says sexual offenses expert Lidewijde van Lier. ‘We only know how many people report to us, not how many people become victims of a sexual offense. It seems that people are more willing to seek help and take the step to the police,’ she says. ‘This is possibly a result of the increased attention to the subject and the societal debate that has arisen around it.’
Van Lier also sees the introduction of the Sexual Offenses Act, effective July 1, 2024, as a possible cause. ‘Before the introduction of the law, the perpetrator was only punishable if they used coercion, for example, violence. Since July 1, 2024, there is a quicker determination of punishability, namely if there are clear signals that someone does not want sex, but the other person continues,’ Van Lier explains. ‘Coercion is no longer a requirement for punishability.’
After the introduction of the law, the police immediately saw a significant increase in the number of reports and complaints. This trend seems to continue this year.
Acquaintances
Regarding the recent serious sexual offenses in our country, Van Lier says: ‘In the vast majority of crimes, the victim and perpetrator know each other. Additionally, there is a category of cases where there is some contact prior to the offense, for example, via a dating site. Incidents where the victim and perpetrator are complete strangers and someone is attacked out of nowhere are the least common.’
The share of online cases continues to increase. It is estimated that one in five cases has an online component. Victims and perpetrators can meet online, or there may be abuse from a distance. In many online cases, there are often multiple victims, sometimes even dozens.
Recognition
Van Lier sees it positively that more people report to the police: ‘Reporting is always good. People often do not know whether what has happened to them is punishable. We know that. Especially after the introduction of the new law, more acts are punishable, and we can therefore help better. Moreover, it provides recognition for victims: what has happened to them is really not okay. And even if something turns out not to be punishable, we can always refer people to get help in processing a bad experience.’
Pressure
Due to the increased number of reports and complaints, the already high pressure on the sexual offense teams in our country is further increasing. ‘Police officers in the sexual offense teams experience this pressure daily,’ states Van Lier. ‘We assess every report and complaint carefully, but we cannot avoid prioritizing and making choices.’
For the police, the wishes of the victim are central, says Van Lier: ‘We listen carefully so that we understand well what the victim needs. Sometimes that means taking a complaint, and sometimes someone is better served by, for example, restorative mediation.’
Prosecution
‘Sometimes it is not possible to find sufficient evidence after a complaint,’ says Van Lier. ‘It is then important to inform victims accurately and quickly about this. And to make it clear to them that there are more options, other agencies where they can tell their story and that can provide help. If a complaint leads to prosecution of a suspect by the Public Prosecution Service, it can take a long time before that happens. Especially in cases with multiple victims or complex evidence, a sexual offense investigation can quickly take six months or more. Fortunately, it often goes faster.’
