A process for reducing the sulphur content of a hydrocarbon material containing sulphur compounds, the process comprising: a) contacting the hydrocarbon material with one or more primary oxidants to provide a primary oxidised hydrocarbon material such that the primary oxidant oxidizes the sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds, wherein the primary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of N-chloroimide, hypobromous acid, electrolyzed oxidizing water and catalysed and co-catalysed hydrogen peroxide; and b) contacting the primary oxidised hydrocarbon material with a secondary oxidant to provide a secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material, wherein the secondary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of hydroxyl radicals, liquid ferrate (iron VI), chlorine dioxide and hypofluorous acid/ polar solvent, such that the secondary oxidant oxidizes sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds; and c) contacting the primary, and secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material with an extractant to allow at least a portion of the sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to be extracted into the extractant to give a sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream and a low sulphur hydrocarbon stream; and d) contacting the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream with a tertiary oxidant to give an aqueous sulphite stream and a low sulphur aromatic hydrocarbon stream, wherein the tertiary oxidant oxidises sulphone and/or sulphoxide compounds to sulphite compounds; and e) separating the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream from the low sulphur hydrocarbon stream, and when the primary oxidant is catalysed and co-catalysed hydrogen peroxide, it is hydrogen peroxide catalysed by homogenous or heterogeneous catalysts. a) contacting the hydrocarbon material with one or more primary oxidants to provide a primary oxidised hydrocarbon material such that the primary oxidant oxidizes the sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds, wherein the primary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of N-chloroimide, hypobromous acid, electrolyzed oxidizing water and catalysed and co-catalysed hydrogen peroxide; and b) contacting the primary oxidised hydrocarbon material with a secondary oxidant to provide a secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material, wherein the secondary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of hydroxyl radicals, liquid ferrate (iron VI), chlorine dioxide and hypofluorous acid/ polar solvent, such that the secondary oxidant oxidizes sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds; and c) contacting the primary, and secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material with an extractant to allow at least a portion of the sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to be extracted into the extractant to give a sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream and a low sulphur hydrocarbon stream; and d) contacting the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream with a tertiary oxidant to give an aqueous sulphite stream and a low sulphur aromatic hydrocarbon stream, wherein the tertiary oxidant oxidises sulphone and/or sulphoxide compounds to sulphite compounds; and e) separating the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream from the low sulphur hydrocarbon stream, and <EOS>