Sexual Assaults Increase By 80% At London Gyms

Data obtained from a Freedom of Information Request to the Metropolitan Police have revealed that rape and sexual assaults in London’s gyms have increased by 80% from 2021-2023.

Shocking statistics showed that;

• 39 such reports were made in 2021, 55 in 2022 and 70 in 2023
• There were 28 reports during the first 7 months of 2024 (January to July)

Growing reports of harassment and so-called ‘gymtimidation’ are believed to be only part of a much bigger problem within the leisure industry.

The figures indicated that most, but not all of those affected, were female.

Ciara Madden, who owns the women-only gym Body by Ciara in Muswell Hill, Haringey, is quoted as saying: “It’s quite shocking to be honest.

“But I think it’s very common – if it wasn’t, women wouldn’t come to my gym in the numbers they do.”

She said she had mostly had positive experiences in mixed gyms but added that better staff training and clearer avenues for complaints are needed.

She herself witnessed an elderly man expose himself in the mixed spa at a health club and confronted him.

She added: “He turned around and winked at me and said, ‘Bet you liked it, though.’”

Madden reported the incident to the health club, which carried out an investigation, “didn’t really do anything.”

She said: “It made me think, if it happened again, would I bother?

“I’m very confident and don’t feel scared easily, but it unnerved me, and I wonder how someone who was less confident or didn’t know anyone there would deal with it.”

Survivors UK, a charity which supports and advocates for male and non-binary victims of rape and sexual abuse, said in a statement it believed many more survivors may not have reported offences due to poor conviction rates and a fear of not being believed.

It said environments like gyms “emphasise physical strength and hyper-masculine stereotypes” and added the new data was “concerning.”

The charity encouraged survivors to contact it or other organisations, such as Safeline and Rape Crisis, adding: “The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, we believe you and there is help available.

In February 2024, This Girl Can launched an eight-week pilot of the Ask for Angela scheme in 11 fitness and leisure centres in south-west London.

The pilot, in partnership with organisations including the Met Police and ukactive, encouraged anyone who felt unsafe to use ‘Angela’ as a code-word to alert trained staff members.

The scheme is part of This Girl Can and ukactive’s ‘Safer Spaces to Move’ campaign, which aims to support facilities to tackle sexual harassment and intimidation.

The campaign is now working with an evaluation agency to explore next steps in the Ask for Angela project.

Kate Dale leads Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, which encourages women and girls to be active, and said a “spectrum” of sexual violence is impacting how people of all genders engage with fitness and leisure facilities.

Dale said women-only gyms such as Madden’s are a positive step but should not be the only solution

She said: “Surely we can’t live in a world where the only way for women to be safe is not to mix with men.”

Dale added that she is confident change can happen and urged victims to report offences to management and the police.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police had no specific comment on sexual offences in fitness and leisure facilities, but said that all allegations of rape and sexual assault are taken seriously.

The force said: “Officers acknowledge the profound impact on victim-survivors and are committed to supporting them through the investigative and trial process.

“Our clear message is to reach out to police or other support agencies and seek help – we will respond with sensitivity, and we will work with you to provide the appropriate support.”

These statistics are a huge cause for concern for the increasing number of people who regularly visit leisure facilities throughout the country, not just the capital, where no doubt similar data would be exposed.

The Government and NHS are constantly reminding us of the need for each and everyone of us to take responsibility to maintain and improve both our physical and mental health but, unfortunately, this worrying trend that appears to have manifested itself in today’s society will only serve to make people think twice about joining a gym.

People should be free to enjoy exercise without fear of intimidation or violence. It is hoped that the necessary steps are taken to promote safe spaces and that such abuse can be quickly eradicated.