Sex offences in leisure centres and swimming pools
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/008641/A
Version Date: 21/08/2025
The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Data Source:
Crimes recorded on crime information system - NICHE
Data Processing:
Qliksense "Crime & Outcomes", filtered on:
Include No-Crimes "Yes";
Notifiable Crime Only: Yes
Month Crimed: Jan-2023 to Dec-2023;
Data exported.
Then
Excel filtered for requested addresses (as above)
Secondary Search - Excel filtered on MO Location: Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Canteen
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Car park level
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Changing room
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Cycle rack/shed
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Doorstep
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Driveway
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Other
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Outside storage
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Porch
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Staff room
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Toilet
Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre - Whole building
Then Excel filtered on relevant offences
Home Office Group Desc: Exposure and Voyeurism
Home Office Group Desc: All Sexual Assault related
Rape: Nil Return
Qliksense "Occurrence - People Links (All) ", filtered on:
Person "Suspect or Offender" then "Victim"
Offence Groups: "Rape" and "Other Sexual Offences".
Then
Offender, Suspect and Victim data matched into Crime data.
Data Caveats and Limitations:
Q4 & Q5: The style/layout of leisure centre changing rooms is not recorded. Summary (Restricted) & MO (Restricted) has been read and contained no relevant information.
There were many offences that were recorded as "MO Location: Leisure - Leisure/swimming centre". The wording of question 1 implies these would be of interest so have been included in the data.
1. How many reports have been made to your police force of sexual assault which are alleged to have taken place in leisure centres and swimming pools* between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?
12
2. How many reports have been made to your police force of rape which are alleged to have taken place in leisure centres and swimming pools* between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?
0
3. How many reports have been made to your police force of voyeurism (all forms of covert surveillance whether using a recording device or in person) which are alleged to have taken place in leisure centres and swimming pools* between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?
4
4. How many of the above points 1, 2 & 3 were reported to have taken place in a mixed sex, open plan village style changing area?
Information not held.
5. How many of the above points 1, 2 & 3 were reported to have taken place in a single-sex changing room?
Information not held.
6. How many of the above points 1, 2 & 3 were reported to have been committed by a male?
12, the remaining 4 offences did not have a linked suspect.
7. How many of the above points 1, 2 & 3 were reported to have been committed by a male member of staff?
None of the identified suspects had an occupation recorded.
8. How many of the above points 1, 2 & 3 were reported to have involved a female victim?
13
9. Does your force record the sex of offenders as biological sex or as gender identity?
Biological
*Leisure centres and swimming pools, with addresses, to facilitate this request:
St Sidwell's Point Paris St, Exeter EX1 2JX
Plympton Swimming Pool Harewood Park, Plymouth PL7 2AS
Life Centre Mayflower Dr, Plymouth PL2 3DG
Torbay Leisure Centre Penwill Way, Paignton TQ4 5JR
North Devon Leisure Centre Seven Brethren Bank, Barnstaple EX31 2AP
Bodmin Leisure Centre Lostwithiel Road, Bodmin PL31 1DE
Polkyth Leisure Centre Carlyon Road, St Austell PL25 4DB
Truro Leisure Centre College Road, Truro TR1 3GA
Newquay Sports Centre Tretherras Rd, Newquay TR7 2SL
Penzance Leisure Centre St Clare St, Penzance TR18 3QW
Ships and Castles Leisure Centre Castle Dr, Falmouth TR11 4NG