Corrosive liquid attacks on rise

Violent crimes involving acid and other corrosive liquids have soared by 30 per cent - with 21 offences reported in South Yorkshire over the last three years.
An attempted cashpoint theft has taken place in Rossington.An attempted cashpoint theft has taken place in Rossington.
An attempted cashpoint theft has taken place in Rossington.

New figures, disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal that, nationally, there have been 500 offences in which people were injured or threatened with harmful substances since 2012.

They include 242 reports of violent crimes which mentioned acid or other corrosive substances across 23 forces in 2014 and 2015, compared with 186 alleged offences in 2012 and 2013.

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One acid attack victim said he believed criminals were using corrosive substances as a ‘cheaper alternative’ to guns and knives.

Wayne Ingold, 57, had sulphuric acid thrown at his face at his block of flats in Witham, Essex, in 2014 in a case of mistaken identity.

The father of two said: “There has to be a stronger deterrent because these crimes are on the rise. It’s got ridiculous now. One day someone will get killed.

“We had gun crime and knife crime - acid seems to be a cheaper alternative. How would these people feel if a member of their family was the victim?”

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In total, 503 offences in which people were injured or threatened with corrosive substances were recorded by forces between 2012 and November 2015, according to police figures.

South Yorkshire Police said there were 21 violent crimes recorded where the weapon was logged as ‘other corrosive, noxious, accelerant fluid or acid’ between 2012 and November 2015.

However, none of the offences involved acid, the force said.

They included three offences between January and November 2015, seven in 2014, three in 2013 and eight in 2012.

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Pepper spray, white spirit, bleach and mouthwash were among the substances involved.

The Metropolitan Police said 26 attacks involving acid or a corrosive or noxious substance had been recorded since 2012. Sulphuric acid, drain cleaner, chromic acid solution and patio cleaner were among the substances used in the assaults.

Derbyshire Constabulary said four offences involving corrosive or noxious substances were recorded in 2015, compared to eight in 2014, one in 2013 and one in 2012.

Acid, CS spray and de-icer were among the substances recorded.

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Humberside Police said 21 incidents were recorded in 2014 involving acid, poison or a corrosive substance, compared to nine in 2013 and 15 in 2012.

Another 11 offences were recorded between January and November last year.

Crimes included an incident when nail polish remover was poured on to a person’s face then set alight, another incident which saw bleach, fertiliser, household chemicals and chilli sprayed in a person’s face and an incident when hot oil and sugar was poured over a victim.

Jaf Shah, director of the Acid Survivors Trust International, said: “The British Government needs to look into this subject with far greater seriousness to understand why these attacks are occurring and what can be done to prevent them occurring.

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“The Colombian government is taking action due to a huge public outcry which in turn led to changes in the law including tighter control on sale of acids and tougher sentencing of attackers. The fact that the majority of victims in the UK are men goes against the global pattern where women tend to be victims.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said violent crimes involving corrosive substances were on the rise in the UK and there were concerns that incidents were not being reported.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Cooke, the NPCC’s lead on violence and public protection, said: “The use of corrosive substances to commit acts of violence is something that we are seeing more of both in the UK and globally. This type of offence is extreme and generally a very personalised crime with the aim being to cause lasting physical and emotional damage to victims.

“It is virtually impossible to ban the sale of all corrosive substances as many are household products, including for example bleach and drain cleaner, and are readily available over the counter at DIY and pharmacy stores, as well as supermarkets.

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“I am sure that some offences of this type are not reported as a crime to the police. Crimes such as this should not go unreported and I would urge anyone who is a victim of this type of attack to report it so that we can deal with the matter positively and sensitively.”

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