Public debate in Britain often frames violence against women and girls as a problem “brought in” from outside—a narrative that casts migrants, especially those from certain ethnic or religious backgrounds, as the main danger. But the evidence tells a different story: the most significant threat comes not from newcomers but from white men born and raised in the UK.
The statistics are stark
Home Office data and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reports show that the vast majority of sexual assaults, domestic abuse incidents, and murders of women in England and Wales are committed by men who are both white and UK-born. For example, police-recorded crime figures consistently indicate that over three-quarters of perpetrators of sexual offences are white, reflecting the demographic make-up of the UK. Migrants account for a small fraction of these crimes.
This is not to suggest that violence against women is the exclusive domain of one group—it is a societal problem cutting across cultures—but the data directly contradicts the popular image of the “dangerous foreigner” often pushed by certain media outlets and politicians.
Why the myth persists
The focus on migrant crime fits into a broader political narrative that seeks to present immigration as a threat to public safety. Isolated and shocking crimes by migrant men are often amplified in headlines, while the far more common—and far more mundane—violence committed by local men is underreported. This selective storytelling skews public perception and fuels xenophobia, all while doing little to make women safer.
Shifting the conversation
If we are serious about tackling violence against women and girls, we must start by addressing the uncomfortable reality: most of this violence is committed by men who have grown up here, shaped by British culture, communities, and social norms. The conversation should focus on misogyny, entitlement, and the failings of systems meant to protect women, not on scapegoating migrants.
Efforts to reduce violence must therefore prioritise education, prevention, and support services. It means challenging toxic masculinity, improving reporting processes, and funding women’s shelters, not chasing an imagined threat from outsiders while ignoring the dangers within our own homes and streets.
The Real Threat to Women and Girls in the UK: The Data
1. Domestic Abuse and Homicide: Predominantly Home-Grown
White ██████████████████████████████████████████ 85%
Asian ███ 7%
Black ██ 4%
Other █ 2%
- 85% of perpetrators in domestic homicides between October 2022 and September 2023 were white, compared with 7% Asian and 4% Black (UK Government, 2024).
- In the previous year, 75% of perpetrators were white, 9% Asian, 10% Black (UK Government, 2023).
- Victim surveys show 6.0% of white women experienced domestic abuse in the past year, compared with 3.0–3.1% of Asian or Black women (ONS, 2023).
2. Child Sexual Abuse: Overwhelmingly Perpetrated by White Offenders
White ██████████████████████████████████████████████████ 90%
Asian ███ 5%
Black ██ 2%
Mixed ██ 2%
Other █ 1%
- In cases where ethnicity was recorded (69%), 90% of child sex offenders were white, compared with 5% Asian, 2% Black, 2% mixed, and 1% other (Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, 2025).
3. Migrant Crime in Context
- Migrants accounted for 12.5–16.4% of criminal convictions in England and Wales between 2021–2023, while making up 9.3% of the population (Migration Central, 2025).
- Around 11.9% of prisoners in early 2024 were foreign nationals (UK Prison Population Data).
- Claims that migrants commit a disproportionate share of sexual offences are often misleading or debunked (The Guardian, 2025).
4. Why the ‘Migrant Threat’ Narrative Persists
- Politicians and media amplify rare migrant-linked crimes while under-reporting the far more common violence by white, UK-born men (The Guardian, Frances Ryan, 2025).
- Misrepresented figures—like claims that “40% of sexual crimes in London are by foreign nationals”—are based on flawed interpretations (The Guardian, 2025).
Conclusion: A Home-Grown Problem Demands Home-Grown Solutions
The data leaves no room for doubt:
- The overwhelming majority of violence against women and girls is committed by white, UK-born men.
- Migrants make up a small share of offenders.
- Redirecting attention to migrants diverts resources away from tackling entrenched misogyny, prevention, and victim support.
We should be focusing on education, early intervention, and robust support services—not scapegoating.
