#MeToo has brought sexual assault into the spotlight. Sophie Hastings looks at the wider context of the issue in England, Wales and Australia.

In the last seven years, the rates of sexual assault in Australia has steadily risen from just under 18,000 reported cases in 2010. England and Wales saw a similar pattern from 2010 to 2013, at which point the trend soared.

Numbers rose significantly in England and Wales between 2014 and 2017, more than doubling the number reported in Australia by 2017. The Office for National Statistics says this may be due to an improvement in the process of reporting sexually violent crimes to the police.

Alarmingly, even though these figures have significantly increased, in England and Wales 83% of sexual assault went unreported in 2017. According to data in from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, around 5 out of 6 respondents did not report sexual assault.

Similarly, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, less than 30% of sexual assault survivors in Australia reported incidents to police.

Even with these high numbers of reported assaults, a huge number of people are remaining silent. In England and Wales alone, more than 5.4million women and over 1.1million men have experienced some form of sexual assault since the age of 15.

A possible explanation for this is fear that stops a survivor from speaking up.

It might possibly, maybe, potentially be the single question of "Are you sure?"

The rates of reported sexual assault in England and Wales have increased, as well as in Australia. The emergence of the #MeToo movement has coincided with a 68% increase in reported sexual assaults in Australia.

But the question is still asked, “Are you sure?”

“He wouldn’t do that, he’s not that kind of guy.”

“If you dress like that, what do you expect?”

“She’d never do that. Besides, you’re a man, you should want it.”

“Are you sure that’s what happened?”

The numbers have risen in Australia to almost 25,000 and in England and Wales to over 121,000 reported cases.

But so many stay silenced.

If you need help with any of the issues raised in this story, please contact RapeCrisis line 0808 802 9999 for UK, or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for Australia.