Women in Nottingham say they feel increasingly unsafe around the Forest Rec after another alleged sexual assault in the area.
A woman in her 30s reported being attacked by a man at the park on Monday evening (January 19).
Nottinghamshire Police are appealing for witnesses and a cordon has been put in place around a wooded section of path on the Mount Hooton Road end.
Officers said they were called to the scene at 7.56pm by a member of the public who found the woman in distress.
No arrests have yet been made but police say they have already increased patrols in the area.
Some statistics suggest violence and sexual offences have increased in recent months.
According to the most recently available police crime report figures, there were 19 violent and sexual offences recorded on the Forest Recreation Ground in the four months from August to November 2025.
This is higher than in the same four month period in 2024, when just 15 were reported.
A number of other high-profile attacks on women and men have been carried out on the Rec in recent years.
Mohammed Darweesh, then 24, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years in April 2025 after robbing and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy as he walked through the park late at night in July 2024.
And in August 2025 a woman was assaulted by a man who stole her bag as she walked through the park late at night.
After Monday’s attack Some women told CBJ Target they feel unsafe in the park and surrounding area.
Jo Worrell, 47, of Nottingham, said she finds it very scary being a woman in areas like the Arboretum.
She said: “I have a 16-year-old and I’m terrified for her.
“More should be done, I understand that it’s harder to have more bobbies on patrol due to costs, but it’s essential at this point.”
Julie Husbands, 60, looks back positively on the area but thinks it’s now somewhere to avoid.
“It was lovely, but now it’s a definite no-go and not somewhere I’d go alone”, she said.
Helena, 67 wished not to be named or identified further.
She said in her 30 years of living in the city, she would never set foot in the Arboretum area, including the Forest Rec, on her own.
“It’s (crime in Forest Rec) been going on forever, and more needs to be done.
“Women don’t feel safe, that’s a huge issue.”
In 2023, safety measures were introduced by Nottinghamshire Police to help tackle anti-social behaviour at the popular park.
These included introducing four new CCTV cameras, extra high visibility patrols, improved lighting and ring doorbells provided to nearby homes.
Following Monday’s assault, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Routledge, of Notts Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “We know these types of incidents are very concerning for the public and I would like to reassure people that we are doing everything we can to investigate this report.
“Alongside these inquiries, our uniformed colleagues in the neighbourhood team have increased reassurance patrols in the area. If anyone has any concerns, we’d encourage them to approach one of our officers.
“Specially trained officers are supporting the victim as our enquiries continue and every effort is being made to locate the person responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Notts Police on 101, quoting incident number 617 of January 19 2026.
