Covid-19 reduced sex offender behaviour, according to new study

According to researchers at the University of Birmingham, the amount of offending in night-time economy and outdoor settings dropped significantly, but so too did offences taking place at home.

The team examined data collected by the National Crime Agency to explore the relationship between Covid-19 public health measures and the rate and characteristics of stranger sex offending across the entire first year of the pandemic.

Researchers contrasted these patterns with data from the same period pre-Covid-19.

While research has been carried out previously into the incidences of other crime, such as burglary or robbery, this is the first study to examine stranger sex offences in this context.

The team also found that offences involving offenders engaging victims in conversation or sneaking up on them decreased significantly during lockdowns, as did internet-facilitated offences in two of the three lockdown periods.

The university says the findings align with reports from other countries, including the US and Kenya.

However, the researchers were not able to determine clearly whether the pandemic led to less actual incidences of offending, or whether there was a reduction in victims reporting offences to the police – or both.

Professor Jessica Woodhams, of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour, led the research. She explained: “We found fewer offences reported on the same day as the offence took place during Covid-19’s first year – particularly during the first lockdown when people’s movements were most restricted and when there had been little time to adapt, for example to additional caring responsibilities.

“This could have had an effect on people’s opportunity to report crimes. Limited access to social networks could also have led to delays in reporting where people are less able to get the emotional support they may need to report a crime.”

In the study, the researchers argue that developing an accurate picture of changing risks, criminal patterns and behaviours is a vital tool in preventing sexual violence. This includes understanding how the public health measures, imposed during the pandemic, affected people’s routine activities, and how those changes affected where, when and how sex offences were committed.

“This information gives us important insights for minimising risk ahead of any future pandemic or similar national emergency,” said Professor Woodhams. “For example, we can gain important insights into how offences can be policed, and how policies aimed at preventing sexual violence can be developed

“Most importantly, these insights can help us plan interventions, such as policing events or areas of geographical risk, that will prevent offences taking place, as well as intervening to re-educate offenders once apprehended.”

The results have been published in Psychology of Violence.