Indian nationals record highest rise in sexual offence convictions in UK: report
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Indian nationals have seen the steepest rise in sexual offence convictions in the UK since 2021, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Convictions among Indians grew by 257 per cent in the last four years, climbing from 28 in 2021 to 100 in 2024. Nigerian nationals followed with a 166 per cent increase, while convictions involving Iraqis rose by 160 per cent. The MoJ clarified that the data reflects sentencing occasions, not individual offenders.
Indians also ranked third in terms of growth in serious offence convictions among foreign nationals, with cases increasing by 115 per cent — from 273 in 2021 to 588 in 2024. Only Algerians and Egyptians recorded higher percentage increases.
Meanwhile, Home Office data showed that 293 Indian nationals entered the UK illegally via small boats in 2024, with 206 more arriving in the first half of 2025. Despite this rise, Indians still make up a relatively small proportion of irregular migration, with Afghans, Iranians, and Syrians forming the majority.
As of June 2025, Indian nationals accounted for 15 per cent of illegal arrivals at UK ports. Out of 5,474 asylum applications from Indians, nearly 4,000 were filed by legal visa holders (mainly students), 400 via small boats, and the rest through other means. Initial decisions granted asylum to only 20 applicants, while 2,691 were refused and the rest remain under review.
At the same time, Indians continue to dominate legal migration flows. It is the largest nationality to obtain UK citizenship, received the most work and tourist visas, and were the second-largest group of study visa recipients, with 98,014 granted to main applicants by June 2025.
Overall, MoJ data showed sexual offence convictions among all foreign nationals in the UK rose by 62 per cent between 2021 and 2024. Last year, foreign nationals accounted for 14.1 per cent of all sexual offence convictions, including rape cases. By comparison, convictions of British nationals rose 39.3 per cent during the same period.
The data, sourced from the Police National Computer (PNC) and obtained by the think tank Centre for Migration Control, comes as the UK faces record migration pressures. In 2025 alone, 27,997 migrants have already arrived by small boats — the highest number at this stage since crossings began in 2018.