GLOUCESTERSHIRE police are targeting sexual violence, after seeing a significant rise in the county of crimes carried out by men using dating apps.

Since January this year there have been ten recorded cases of sexual violence in the county after meetings between the offender and victim were arranged through dating apps such as Tinder or Plenty of Fish (POF).

A police spokesman said "Online dating is relatively safe, but it can give individuals an increased feeling of trust, causing them to no longer view the person they are meeting as a stranger.

"From January to July last year there were four reports of crimes in relation to dating apps, whereas this figure has more than doubled in the same time period this year.

The rise in incidents reported to us mirrors an increase which has been seen across the country."

The spokesman added: "One online dating case we're aware of this year involved a female who felt she wanted to meet a male she was talking to. He offered to cook for her and so she went to his flat. While at this male's flat she was asked to wait in his bedroom while he cooked. At some point she lost consciousness after being drugged.

"She was then sexually assaulted without her consent and told upon waking up that he hadn’t done anything she wouldn't have wanted to."

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Chicken said: "My concerns around dating sites such as Tinder and POF are that because people have been chatting online it makes them feel safe, but actually it's no different to meeting a stranger.

"It worries me in Gloucestershire that some people aren't taking the necessary precautions when meeting others after talking online."

Louise Williams, service director at Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) added: "What we would ask you to do is think about your expectations for why you're going to meet somebody through online dating.

"Your expectations and your intentions might be completely different from theirs."

Gloucestershire Constabulary has specially trained officers to support victims and will investigate any report of rape or sexual assault.

In a non-emergency situation call police on 101 or email 101@gloucstershire.police.uk or call 999 in an emergency.

Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre - 01452 526770 or visit their website www.glosrasac.org/