The number of violent acid-related offences in London has soared by almost 200 per cent in the last 15 years, shocking statistics have revealed.
Since 2002, the number of corrosive fluid incidents considered to be “violent offences” have increased by 186 per cent from 145 to 416 last year.
The age of offenders has also dropped dramatically as more teens are convicted of crimes relating to acid.
The Met revealed the stark rise in numbers of the violent offences after a double acid attack in north and east London.
Two delivery drivers were doused in acid in Tottenham and Waltham Forest on Thursday evening leaving a 32-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital. He could be left permanently blind.
In 2016 there were 664 corrosive fluid offences, 63 per cent of which were classed as violent, police said.
And the numbers are set to be even higher in 2017 as, between January and September, there have been 739 offences – 411 of which were violent.
The Met classes “violent offences” as those recorded within the category "violence against the person" (VATP). These include assault – including actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH) – and murder.
Those not categorised as “violent” include offences relating to "harassment", "offensive weapons" and "other violence". This could apply to someone convicted of possessing a corrosive substance, for example.
In recent months the capital has seen a spate of horrifying "acid attacks" which involve the victim being doused in a corrosive substance.
It can leave people scarred for life, impact their vision, permanently damage nerve or muscle function and in extreme cases, be fatal.
The technique is increasingly being used by people attempting to steal mopeds off people and multiple takeaway delivery drivers have been targeted.
In August, the Standard reported that Deliveroo staff were refusing to work jobs in certain parts of London after a spate of acid attacks and thefts.
The company revealed that, in the space of three weeks, 71 riders unassigned themselves from jobs in the capital and some were offered alternative work locations after expressing concerns for their safety.
Records show that the number of acid-related crimes gradually decreased between the years 2002 and 2012.
But since then numbers have soared to considerably higher than before.
The age of the perpetrators has also dropped dramatically as the number of crimes has risen.
In 2016/2017, the majority of suspects identified are aged between 10 and 19-years-old. This has brought the average age down from 27 in 2002 to 21 in 2017.
The worst areas for acid crime are all in east London – Hackney, Newham, Havering, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham.
A spokesman for the Met said the force has in place a “London-wide plan” working with the Home Office and children’s charity the NPCC.
The Home Office is developing a set of “voluntary commitments” for retailers which would serve to restrict access to acid and other harmful corrosive products to customers.
“We recognise the lasting impact on victims of corrosive attacks, and are improving our response through training, investment and joint working,” the Met spokesman said.
“We have been guided by the NHS and the key treatment for these injuries is to flush the injury with lots of water. So some response cars are now equipped with five litre bottles, with a full role out to follow in the coming weeks.
“We are also looking at a kit which would be available to every borough and as well as water would also include protective eyewear and gauntlets. We are also including a separate input into officers' first aid training.”
A procedure has been introduced that automatically flags “acid attacks” to the London Fire Brigade in order to utilise the brigade’s access to gallons of water.
“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a corrosive attack to report it to police, and we appeal to parents, relatives and professionals to assist us in identifying and challenging those who carry or seek to carry noxious substances in public without a lawful excuse,” he added.
“If someone is in fear of being attacked with acid, or knows someone who is going to use it, they need to report it to police or confidentially through Crimestoppers and it will be actioned and you will be fully supported.”
