Indian nationals see steepest rise in UK sexual offence convictions
Convictions of foreign nationals for sexual offences climb 62% in four years, with Indians accounting for nearly a quarter of the surge
LONDON, United Kingdom (MNTV) — Indian nationals have recorded the sharpest rise in convictions for sexual offences among foreigners in the United Kingdom, according to new data covering the period between 2021 and 2024.
Figures show convictions of Indian citizens for such crimes grew from 28 in 2021 to 100 in 2024, marking a 257 percent increase over four years. By comparison, the overall number of foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences rose from 687 to 1,114 in the same period — a 62 percent increase.
Indians accounted for nearly a quarter of the total rise in convictions. Other nationalities with significant increases included Nigerians, with a 166 percent jump, Iraqis at 160 percent, Sudanese at 117 percent, and Afghans at 115 percent. Bangladeshis saw a 100 percent rise, while Pakistanis registered a smaller 47 percent increase.
The year-on-year trend has kept Indian nationals at the top of the list since 2021. Convictions rose from 28 in 2021 to 53 in 2022, 67 in 2023, and 100 last year.
A broader review of serious, or non-summary, crimes also placed Indians high on the list. Between 2021 and 2024, convictions of Indian nationals for serious offences more than doubled — rising from 273 to 588 cases. That 115 percent increase represented 315 additional convictions, placing India third overall in the category.
While sexual offences and serious crimes have grown, analysts noted that convictions of foreign nationals for violent and fraud offences declined over the same period. Even so, nearly 75,000 non-summary convictions involving foreign citizens were logged in the UK courts between 2021 and 2024.
The findings come against the backdrop of wider debates on migration and public safety in Britain. Home Office figures show the number of Indian nationals held in detention almost doubled in the past year. At the same time, Indians remain the second-largest group granted study visas in the UK — with 98,014 issued in 2024 — and the largest for both work and tourist visas.
Earlier this month, the UK government expanded its deportation policy to include India on the list of countries whose nationals can be removed immediately after sentencing, before appeals are heard. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the change is part of efforts to increase the number of offenders returned to their countries of origin.
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