The worrying rise of acid attacks

The number of people hospitalised as a result of corrosive substances has almost doubled in the last ten years, according to official statistics.

The figures from the Health and Social Care Information show that 55 hospital stays were caused by acid attacks in 2004-05 in England.

However, provisional data from 2014-15 shows annual admissions for this rose to 106, with 109 in 2013-14.

While there are no police statistics for the reporting of such incidents specifically, there have been several reports of cases in the British media recently.

In one recent example, four men were sentenced after Adele Bellis, 23, was attacked with sulphuric acid at a bus stop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

One famous victim, Katie Piper, launched her own foundation in 2009 - a year after she was attacked - to raise the plight of those affected.

Piper, 32, was blinded in one eye by sulphuric acid in a plot arranged by ex-boyfriend Danny Lynch.

In a more recent case, Truro property developer Andreas Christopheros was scarred for life after he had a beaker of sulphuric acid thrown over him in an attack that later turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

Last year Mary Konye, 22, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after throwing acid in the face of childhood friend Naomi Oni, also 22.

During the trial, Ms Konye - who disguised herself in a veil before carrying out the attack - claimed her victim asked her to do it so she could enjoy "fame and fortune".

In a statement, Metropolitan Police DCI Dave Whellams said: "The result today will give Naomi Oni some comfort but she's never going to be away from the fact that she's scarred."

So why has there been a rise?

Jaf Shah, from Acid Survivors Trust International, said acid was easily accessible and available to buy for "as little as £7 or £8".

Acid had therefore become a "weapon of choice" for many, he said, adding that he was "not convinced" there was a police strategy for combating the crime.