Rape awareness campaign launched

A HARD HITTING poster and Facebook campaign has been launched across Avon and Somerset this week in a bid to raise awareness of consent when it comes to sex.

With the most romantic day of the year having just been, Valentines Day can easily turn into the worst day of the year if an allegation of rape is made.

While there's no evidence of a rise in offences of this crime or domestic violence on February 14, awareness and education about the issue of alcohol, boundaries and consent, has been key in promoting confidence in the police to fully investigate and support victims.

The campaign features lonely hearts adverts from victims of rape and sexual assault and targets the perpetrator. They reiterate that they need to get consent to have sex; you need to get a YES!

Chief Superintendent Sarah Crew, who leads the rape aware campaign, said: "Rape is a short word but it carries a long sentence for both the victim and perpetrator of this crime.''

Chief Superintendent Crew added: "We hope this campaign hits home and that people understand that when it comes to consent 'Only Yes Means Yes'. Sex without consent is rape.

"We now have some fantastic crisis support and advocacy services to help each and every victim on the road to recovery and with specialist investigation teams like Operation Bluestone, the odds of arrest, prosecution and conviction are increasing year by year."

One of every three women on the planet – will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. That's ONE BILLION mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and friends violated.

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: "Rape and sexual assault is never the victim's fault and it is important that we make men and women aware of the information available to them.

"The rape aware website goes through how to report a rape or sexual assault as well as highlighting all the places that you can go for support and advice.

"There are lots of great organisations across Avon and Somerset working to give a specialist and supportive response to victims and the website is one place you can go to find out about them."

For more information you can visit www.rapeaware.org where you'll find a list of support services and information about this crime. Call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org We

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