Reports of sexual assault are at a five year high, and have more than doubled since this time last year.

Staff from the Women's Resource Centre believe that's just the tip of the iceberg, with half of all sex attacks thought to go unreported.

The statistics, released by the Police yesterday, show 17 assaults reported over the period from April to the end of June.

That compares to just six for the same quarter last year. The average number of reports, according to statistics dating back to 2005, is 12 per quarter.

The recent figure is the highest since the last quarter of 2006, when 21 sex attacks were reported.

Elaine Williams, executive director of the Women's Resource Centre (WRC), said: "It is very concerning to see the increase in sexual assaults, particularly in view of the current violence in our community, of which sexual assault is part.

"We believe that the increase in statistics is indicative of more women being assaulted, along with an increased willingness to report the assaults."

Nurse Gaynelle Hayward, coordinator for the Sexual Assault Response Team at the hospital, added: "I feel that it is also happening to males who are unwilling to report the assaults."

Statistical trends have shown that sex attacks increase during the summer months when more alcohol is drunk.

The WRC aims to support women who have been sexually assaulted, and educate them on how to avoid falling victim.