More than 250 rape suspects have been arrested in County Durham and Darlington this year as police launch a new approach to investigating sexual offences.
During the month of June, 17 suspected offenders were arrested on suspicion of rape in the area. In November, the number had risen to 32. The total number of suspects arrested so far in 2022 is 255.
Investigators at Durham Constabulary are putting offenders and their behaviour under deeper scrutiny and have developed new systems to identify repeat suspects for sexual offences.
