THE UK has seen a disturbing surge in acid attacks in recent years with London being the worst hit.

There are plans to further restrict the sale of corrosive substances — but why are such brutal attacks on the rise?

3 Acid attacks in London alone soared in 2016

How common are acid attacks in the UK?

The UK has one of the highest rates of acid attacks per capita in the world, according to Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI).

It claims the country does not have "tight controls on acid sales" or "legislation specific to acid attacks".

ASTI's figures, quoting the police, reveal the number of recorded attacks has increased nearly three-fold from 228 recorded crimes in 2012 to 601 attacks in 2016.

With more than 400 incidents reported in the six months, 2017 was widely regarded as the worst ever year for acid attacks.

Unlike in other countries, where 80 per cent of acid attacks are against women, in the UK most victims are men, ASTI says.

Gang disputes are said to be behind the rise in acid attacks in London and other British cities.

Where are acid attacks being carried out?

London has emerged as a hot spot for acid attacks in recent years, with more than half of incidents within the UK taking place in the capital.

The number of cases more than doubled from less than 200 in 2014 to 431 in 2016, with Scotland Yard focusing on specific parts of the city.

Outside of the capital, areas such as the West Midlands and Essex have also seen large rises in acid attacks in recent years as reports soared from 340 in 2014 to 843.

Here are some of the most high-profile attacks of the hundreds carried out each year...

January 12, 2019 - Two men were rushed to hospital after being splashed with acid during a horrific attack outside King's Cross station.

- Two men were rushed to hospital after being splashed with acid during a horrific attack outside King's Cross station. December 27, 2018 - a 21-year-old man was attacked in Stoke Newington, north-east London with a corrosive substances and also had cuts on his hands believed to be caused by a knife.

- a 21-year-old man was attacked in with a corrosive substances and also had cuts on his hands believed to be caused by a knife. September 4, 2018 - three men were sprayed with a noxious substance in Westbourne Grove, West London

- three men were sprayed with a noxious substance in Westbourne Grove, West London July 21, 2018 - A three-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was deliberately targeted in an acid attack in the West Midlands , police said. Cops have arrested four men after the toddler was wounded at Home Bargains in Worcester.

- A three-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was deliberately targeted in an acid attack in the , police said. Cops have arrested four men after the toddler was wounded at Home Bargains in Worcester. June 1, 2018 - Two teenage victims, rushed to hospital after a suspected attack in Newham, East London , were found screaming in agony.

- Two teenage victims, rushed to hospital after a suspected attack in , were found screaming in agony. May 6, 2018 - Two men attacked patrons in Dalston, East London . Three men aged 17, 22, 27 received non life-threatening injuries.

- Two men attacked patrons in . Three men aged 17, 22, 27 received non life-threatening injuries. April 1, 2017 - Arthur Collins chucked acid in Mangle E8 club in Hackney, East London , injuring 20 people and leaving many of them with permanent scars. The ex-boyfriend of Towie star Ferne McCann has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

- Arthur Collins chucked acid in Mangle E8 club in , injuring 20 people and leaving many of them with permanent scars. The ex-boyfriend of Towie star Ferne McCann has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars. July 27, 2017 - Daniel Rotariu, 31, was left blinded and scarred for life after acid was poured over his eyes as he slept at Katie Leong's home in Leicester . She had cooordinated the sadistic attack after her lodger boyfriend of the time rejected her advances. Leong was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 17 years for the attack.

- Daniel Rotariu, 31, was left blinded and scarred for life after acid was poured over his eyes as he slept at Katie Leong's home in . She had cooordinated the sadistic attack after her lodger boyfriend of the time rejected her advances. Leong was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 17 years for the attack. September 2015 - Engineer Mark van Dongen, 29, took his own life after he was blinded and paralysed when his ex-lover Berlinah Wallace hurled concentrated sulphuric acid in his face as he slept in Bristol .

- Engineer Mark van Dongen, 29, took his own life after he was blinded and paralysed when his ex-lover Berlinah Wallace hurled concentrated sulphuric acid in his face as he slept in . August 2014 - Beautician Adele Bellis was doused with acid in Lowestoft, Suffolk . Her abusive ex masterminded the attack, which has left her with permanent scarring and the loss of her ear and half of her hair.

- Beautician Adele Bellis was doused with acid in . Her abusive ex masterminded the attack, which has left her with permanent scarring and the loss of her ear and half of her hair. December 2012 - Naomi Oni was attacked by her former friend Mary Konye on her way home from her job at Victoria's Secret store in South East London . Konye is now serving 12 years for the vicious attack.

- Naomi Oni was attacked by her former friend Mary Konye on her way home from her job at Victoria's Secret store in . Konye is now serving 12 years for the vicious attack. March 2008 - TV presenter Katie Piper underwent 40 operations to treat her burns after she was attacked by a man taking orders from her jealous ex Daniel Lynch in North London. Lynch is serving a life sentence in jail and Stefan Sylvestre, who carried out the horrifying attack on Lynch's orders, has been in prison for the past six years.

3 There's been a huge rise in acid attacks in East London, but the figures crept up across the capital last year

Why are acid attacks on the rise?

Many acid attacks appear to be gang-related, which helps explain the rocketing number of cases in small areas of major cities.

Criminologists believe gang members may be swapping guns and knives for acid as a weapon of choice because possession is hard to monitor — but its impact on victims can be devastating.

Dr Simon Harding of Middlesex University, said: "Acid was once a weapon of last resort but may now be the first.

"It's used by gangs, if a business deal goes wrong or someone owes money. People can have a legitimate reason for having them."

3 Model and TV presenter Katie Piper has also become a campaigner for burns victims Credit: Getty Images

Who is Katie Piper and how did she survive an acid attack?

Model and TV presenter Katie Piper fell victim to an acid attack in March 2008, arranged by jailed ex-boyfriend David Lynch.

Katie was rushed to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for emergency treatment as the acid had severely burned her face and blinded her in her left eye.

She was put in an induced coma for 12 days and had to undergo skin graft procedures.

Just a year after the attack, the model then launched the Katie Piper Foundation to campaign for more specialist help for burns victims.

Who was Mark van Dongen and what happened to him?

Engineer Mark, 29, was blinded and paralysed when his ex-lover Berlinah Wallace hurled concentrated sulphuric acid in his face as he slept in Bristol in 2015.

He begged doctors to kill him when he saw his devastating injuries and later ended his life at a euthanasia clinic in Belgium.

Fashion student Wallace, 48, was acquitted of murder after a landmark trial but found guilty of throwing a corrosive substance with intent.

Judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies called it "an act of pure evil" as she jailed Wallace for 12 years.

What is being done about it?

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she had plans to ban the sale of corrosive substances to under 18s.

The policy would bring acid in line with the law on the possession of knives in a public place and anyone caught could be imprisoned for up to 4 years.

She told the 2017 Tory Party Conference: "Acid attacks are absolutely revolting. You have all seen the pictures of victims that never fully recover.

"Endless surgeries. Lives ruined. We are going to stop people carrying acid in public if they don’t have a good reason."

Shopkeepers have stopped selling bleach and corrosive substances to kids and London cops have been given 1,000 acid crime response kits.

Officers are also due to get extra medical advice and protective clothing.

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How do you treat acid burns?

The most important thing you can do in the event of an acid attack is to douse the victim in running water, rather than a wet cloth.

The water dilutes the acid, and so it's important to keep refreshing with new, clean water, as quickly as possible.