SHOCKING figures have revealed that the number of serious sexual offences in Southampton has soared by more than 30 per cent in the last 12 months.

Cases of rape and the most serious of sexual assaults reported to city police have increased to 307 – a rise of 33 per cent – and 88 of those involved victims aged under 18, a new report has revealed.

Many of the cases being reported across the county fitted an “emerging trend” of young girls attending house parties and getting drunk, the report said.

It also found there was an increase in offences where victims and their attackers have met through social media.

The figures come as police launched a new campaign targeting young men in a bid to slash the number of rapes and sex attacks, following a 9.5 per cent increase across the whole force.

Southampton is the only city in the county to see an increase and remains a force hotspot for these serious crimes.

These latest figures, revealed in the city council’s Southampton Safe City Strategy 2014-17, put Southampton well above the national average – which saw a 21 per cent increase.

And when compared to 15 other similar cities, including Portsmouth, Southampton ranks as the fifth worst for rape – moving up one place from the previous year.

But Southampton’s top police chief, Superintendent James Fulton, wants to reassure residents the increase is due to an 83 per cent rise in the number of victims coming forward to report historic cases of rape and sexual offences, as a result of high-profile cases like Jimmy Savile and Max Clifford.

He said: “Although there has been a significant increase in the number of offences being reported in the city, which include historic offences, actual offences which are reported to have occurred in the six months from April 2014 to September 2014 have reduced by seven per cent compared to the same period last year.

“I want victims to continue to feel confident in reporting sexual offences to us knowing that we will take their report seriously.”

Councillors in the city have now launched an action plan focused on prevention, education and enforcement following the reports findings.