COMPLAINTS of rape from students are up by almost 300 per cent in the space of just five years in West Yorkshire, new police figures show, rising at a faster pace than overall allegations of that crime.

Figures show that in 2014 the force dealt with 97 rape offences where the victims were identified as students, up from 33 in 2009, with year-by-year figures showing a steep increase from 2012 onwards.

That contrasts with overall rape figures for the same years as 514, compared to 210 five years earlier.

All the figures have been adjusted to exclude allegations which have later been 'no crimed', or found to be unsubstantiated.

Numbers of young victims have also risen sharply, with 56 in the 16 to 24 age bracket in 2009, when only one victim was male, compared to 148 last year, with seven males among the victims.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Crimes relating to sexual abuse are taken very seriously by West Yorkshire Police. Specially selected and trained officers are responsible for the investigation of these offences and are situated within both District Safeguarding Units and Protective Services (Crime), a specialist department which deals with certain complex rape investigations.

"The national Operation Yewtree investigation focussed public attention heavily on this issue in West Yorkshire and has raised the public’s awareness that it is possible to report sexual crimes that are historical in nature.

"Since this investigation commenced in October 2012, there has been a significant increase in historical crime reports of a sexual nature recorded

by West Yorkshire Police.

"We welcome the fact that victims feel able to approach the police regarding offences, whatever period of time has passed since the offence was committed."

Police say they also recognise the need to educate children at school and students in further education to help keep them safe from sexual predators.

As such, the force has dedicated officers who work with young people across schools and further education establishments.

The force has also recently changed its reporting policy for rape and serious sexual assaults, meaning they are automatically recorded as crimes at the first point of contact with police.

The West Yorkshire force says that "demonstrates a culture of belief towards rape victims which ultimately build confidence within those victims and others to come forward and report offences".

They also now work with Victim Support and other organisations to improve they way they provide support to victims in serious sexual crimes.

Samayya Afzal, Women's and Liberation Officer with Bradford Student Union, said publicity over Operation Yewtree and celebrity prosecutions for historic offences "could be linked to people feeling more comfortable in reporting rape crimes".

"As well as this, efforts have been made by feminists and student activists to tackle the victim-blaming and shaming that stops people, especially women, from reporting.

"Common myths held by people are now challenged, i.e. the myth that certain types of clothing cause rape. Reversing this trend and removing the blame that is often internalised by victims can help more come forward to report.

"Whilst it’s encouraging to see an increase in reporting, there are still many barriers. Nationally, the numbers of rapes that are actually reported compared to how many occur, and how many reports reaching a conviction are quite damning. More support is required at all stages throughout the process of rape crime reporting."