Greece most dangerous place in the world for British women after 41 are raped this year

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Already, 41 cases have been reported this year, making Greece the country where British women are most vulnerable to rape.

Police estimate around ten British women are being raped a month in the peak season.

Holidaymakers in Falaraki, Rhodes: Greek police have revealed 41 British women have been raped in the country so far this year

They predict that before the end of the season, on September 15, the total number will climb above the previous record of 48, which was set in 2005-2006.

Greek security officials released the figures following publication earlier this week of the Foreign Office report British Behaviour Abroad, which revealed that 28 British women were raped in Greece between mid-2006 and mid-2007 and 29 in Spain in the same period.

But since Spain had 17million British tourists over that period compared with only three million in Greece, that means the rape figure in Greece - in proportion to the British tourist population - was five and a half times higher than in Spain. It was also by far the highest in the world.

A Greek police official said: 'At the present rate it is bound to break all previous records and will again give Greece the unenviable record of having the largest number of British rape victims, both in real figures but especially proportionately to the British tourism population.'

Police also admit the problem may be worse than they realise because many women do not report attacks fearing embarrassing medical examinations and questioning, legal complications, and public exposure.

The men responsible were mainly drunken British men, followed by Eastern European migrant workers with Greeks in third place.

Police say British women appear to be particularly vulnerable compared with other foreign women because they drink heavily and because they are 'na've' in befriending strangers and in accepting lifts home.

The Foreign Office has launched a campaign to improve women's safety with posters, beer mats and leaflets in Greek resorts popular with young Britons.