COPS are at the centre of a “shocking” rape scandal after 162 sexual assaults were reported in police stations in just a year.

       Both station staff and visitors fell victim to alleged attacks - including nine reported rapes, figures show.

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       Police are at the centre of a rape scandal Credit: Getty

       Essex police saw the most sexual assaults with 36 inside stations, according to a Daily Express Freedom of Information Request.

       Some 27 of the reported assaults were allegedly carried out by police officers.

       In close second Kent police had 19 reports of sexual assault between January 2019 and December 2022.

       Just eight of these ended in charges.

       In West Yorkshire there were 13 reports of sexual assault, which resulted in three charges.

       They had the highest reports of rape - three, with no charges.

       Caroline Nokes MP, the chairman of the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), said: “These figures are truly shocking. The number of sexual assaults and or rapes on police premises should be zero. And there are some forces where it has increased in number."

       The Met Police recorded 82 cases but was unable to confirm how many of the alleged incidents took place on police property.

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       It comes after a Met cop was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in the sea on his own stag do.

       Sergeant Laurence Knight attacked the victim in Brighton as she begged: “You’re getting married in two weeks.”

       And earlier this year another twisted cop was revealed as one of the UK's worst serial rapists after he admitted 49 sex offences.

       David Carrick tortured and abused his victims in a 17-year reign of terror by controlling what they ate and who they spoke to.

       An Essex Police spokesman said: “Of the 27 cases highlighted involving allegations against police officers, 22 of the investigations have concluded with 16 finding there was no case to answer.

       “It was identified there were cases to answer in five of the investigations and, at the time the figures were provided, five were still ongoing.

       “When victims of sexual offences bravely come forward to us, our specialist officers spend time with them to support them and take their often harrowing accounts of what has happened.

       “We pride ourselves on supporting victims and our officers from our specialist Crime & Public Protection Command work tirelessly every day to do this and bring perpetrators to justice.

       “All victims of sexual assault will be offered support from specialist officers and our partner agencies and support services.

       “Essex Police expect the highest level of professionalism from all officers and staff and our process in dealing with any allegation of misconduct is stringent.

       “We have a professionalism strategy, which sets our expectations and values in terms of how officers and staff should look, lead, learn, work and behave and this strategy is reinforced through our training to new recruits and also supervisors and managers.”

       How you can get help

       a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247 the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year)

       Chief Constable Craig Guildford, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for complaints and misconduct, said it takes all reports of sexual assault incredibly seriously.

       He added: “This data shows the importance of doing everything we can to protect our officers and staff against sexual assaults by detainees in custody suites and elsewhere, as well as tackling rare cases of police-perpetrated abuse wherever they occur.

       “We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed a crime to report it to the police so it can be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate support provided to the victim.

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       “All police forces expect a high level of professionalism from our officers and staff. The misconduct process for those who do not meet those standards is stringent and we will take all action within our power to root them out. Where we believe criminality has taken place, we will undertake both criminal and disciplinary investigations at the same time.

       “Police forces continue to improve their response to tackle prejudicial and improper behaviour by anyone in policing, including through increased methods of reporting and detection to pursue perpetrators and bring them to justice.”