The number of acid attacks has risen 10 per cent in a year across the UK, but dropped significantly in London.
But a charity warned this could be higher because of under-reporting by victims.
Acid Survivors Trust International said its analysis shows 498 physical attacks involving corrosive substances were recorded in 2024 - compared with 454 in the previous year.
In 2023, both Northumbria Police and the Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of physical attacks, 18 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, a Freedom of Information request reveals.
But figures in 2024 shows a 78 per cent drop in the capital, while cases in the North East rose substantially.
Last January, convicted sex offender Abdul Ezedi, 35, from the Newcastle area, took his own life and drowned in the Thames within hours of dousing his ex-partner and her two girls with strong alkali in Clapham, south London.
ASTI executive director Jaf Shah explained attacks in Northumbria account for almost a quarter of the nationwide total - despite making up just two per cent of the population.
He told Sky News: “Historically, London has always seen the highest number attacks, which is unsurprising because of the population. But what we've seen in the 2024 data is a massive drop in the number of attacks in London to just 16.
“Whereas in Northumbria we’ve seen a 49 per cent increase to 121 attacks, so there’s a massive disparity in terms of numbers, especially relative to population figures for each of those corresponding areas. So this is obviously a very worrying trend.”
Mr Shah added “The rise in physical acid attacks is deeply concerning.
“Tackling this issue means addressing the wider challenges of socioeconomic inequality, deprivation, and gang involvement, while holding retailers to account.
“It’s vital we address how easily offenders are able to access corrosive substance in the first place.
“We urgently need stricter controls on sales, especially from online retailers, alongside better reporting and more investment in prevention to stop corrosive substances being weaponised.”
Professor Francisco Figueiredo, head of ophthalmology at Newcastle University, said: “Corrosive substance attack to the eye is a serious injury that can cause substantial damage, potentially leading to significant visual loss/blindness.
“In our data, the most serious injuries tend to be on victims of attack, often young white male.” The evidence also indicated that most of the attacks took place in deprived areas, Prof Figueiredo added.
Of the 224 physical attacks where gender data was recorded, a third of victims were female, reflecting the increasing use of acid as a weapon of violence against women and girls.
ASTI also commissioned research, conducted by Frontier Economics, which concluded that the financial impact of all acid attacks in 2024 was more than £31m.
The study estimated that a single attack costs £63,000, consisting of the medical and psychological support victims require and paying for the criminal justice system to deal with perpetrators.
West Midlands Police also recorded a significant increase in attacks - rising 82 per cent between 2023 and 2024 - and making up 12 per cent of the UK total.
ASTI states the FOI data reveals acid attacks in the UK are historically associated with male-on-male violence and often linked to gang activity.
Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for corrosive substances, said an attack “devastates lives and causes physical and psychological damage to victims that can last a lifetime” and officers were committed “to tackle this appalling crime”.
He added: “Many corrosive substances are available over the counter at supermarkets and DIY stores.
“It is important that law enforcement and government work closely with retailers themselves, to enhance our intelligence picture, and determine the best ways to keep these products from falling into the hands of people who intend to use them to cause harm.
“Serious crimes such as this should not go unreported and we want victims to feel able to come forward and report these matters to us.”
