A senior Metropolitan Police officer warns that a “rising tide of sexual violence” is placing increasing strain on the criminal justice system. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth says the force faces growing pressures linked to the scale of sexual offending and the demands of managing related cases and risks. He also highlights the monitoring workload involved in supervising people registered as sex offenders.
Southworth states that the Metropolitan Police has more than 10,000 registered sex offenders that it must monitor. The warning is presented as part of broader concerns about capacity and workload across policing and the criminal justice process, as authorities respond to sexual violence and associated safeguarding requirements.
The reporting focuses on the officer’s assessment of current pressures rather than on new criminal cases or specific incidents. No additional figures, outcomes, or policy changes are detailed beyond the monitoring figure and the general warning about operational strain.
