Police nationwide recorded 346 sexual offences between January and June this year. That is the highest first-half figure since 2021. The number covers complaints of every kind of sexual offence logged across the country during the six months. Reaching 346 means the country has returned to reporting levels not seen in roughly five years. A half-year total like that works out to an average of nearly 58 reports each month. Rising figures can signal either more offending or more victims feeling able to come forward, and often both. Because the tally counts police reports, it says nothing yet about outcomes in court. The picture will firm up when the full-year statistics are released.