The shocking number of sexual offences recorded in Greenwich bars, pubs and nightclubs since 2020 has been revealed.

Data revealed in an FOI from the Metropolitan Police showed the number of sexual offences recorded between January 1, 2020, through to February 26, 2024 in Greenwich, Bromley, Bexley and Lewisham.

Across this time period, Greenwich had the highest number of offences across these boroughs.

In Greenwich, 11 cases of rape were recorded by the Metropolitan Police at bars, clubs or pubs.

In addition to this, 45 other sexual offences were recorded. 

Since 2020, in Bromley 28 sexual offences but no cases of rape were recorded by police.

In Lewisham throughout this stretch of time, four cases of rape were recorded as well as 23 other sexual offences at pubs, clubs and bars in the area.

Three cases of rape were reported in Bexley in this time period as well as 22 other sexual offences.

The News Shopper does not have the data for the borough of Southwark.

A spokesperson for Greenwich Council has commended survivors of this crime for coming forward and reporting their experiences to police whilst acknowledging that, unfortunately, not everyone feels safe to come forward.

The council is “committed” to ending violence against women and girls and has said this is one of their “top priorities”.

It has invested £1.3 million in measures to improve women’s safety in Greenwich as part of a Women’s Safety Plan and Serious Violence Strategy.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “Women should feel safe wherever they go, at any time of the day.

“We commend these brave survivors for coming forward and reporting their experiences to the police – unfortunately, this is not always the case.

“We are committed to ending violence against women and girls and tackling it is one of our top priorities – but we cannot do it alone.  

“As a council we work with local partners including the police through the Safer Greenwich Partnership, to make the borough a safer place so that perpetrators can be brought to justice.  

“We have invested £1.3million in measures to improve women’s safety as part of our Women’s Safety Plan and Serious Violence Strategy.

“We’ve made street harassment an offence in our borough, we run educational programmes in schools and workplaces to tackle misogynistic attitudes, and we’re improving CCTV and street lighting – all following extensive consultation with local women.   

“We try to ensure bars and clubs are safe by regularly visiting licensed venues, and scrutinising new license applications, to ensure they are complying with the Licensing Act 2003 to deter this kind of crime.

“We have also championed the ‘Good Night Out’ and ‘Ask for Angela’ campaigns to provide training to licensed premises on how to respond to disclosures of sexual harassment.  

“If you have been raped or sexually assaulted report it to the police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency, or by going to a police station.”