Greater Manchester Police Launch Rape Awareness Campaign
Amidst all the glitz and glamour of the Christmas party season finally being upon us, there is also a worrying statistic that suggests rape and sexual assaults go up around this time of year too.
We all lower our inhibitions at this time of year, and as a consequence we can relax too much and take unnessasary risks. That's why this year Greater Manchester Police is running a rape awareness campaign, in the hope it can reduce the number of rape and sexual assault incidents over the Christmas period.
They are also hoping to increase the number of people who report these incidents too, as many do not want to report if they have been a victim, leaving the attacker free to roam and possibly commit the crime again.
Alcohol plays a big part in getting us to lower our inhibitions and leave ourselves vulnerable to falling victim to a number of crimes, including rapes and sexual assaults.
Between 1 April and 31 October 2008, there were 526 rapes and attempted rapes reported in Greater Manchester - alcohol featured in approximately two thirds, with this figure expected to increase in the run up to and over the Christmas period.
Superintendent Phil Owen of GMP’s Local Policing Improvement Branch said: "As the Christmas party season approaches, we want people who are going out to have a good time but to keep themselves safe.
"As part of our awareness campaign, we will be using a number of tactics such as distributing posters to licensed premises to highlight important messages such as, sex without consent is a crime and can lead to a lengthy jail term and ‘let your hair down, not your guard’."
The campaign includes two harrowing adverts, shown from two different perspectives; a male and a female. One of the adverts will remind offenders ‘No Consent No Sex’. The second advert is aimed at victims and highlights the effects of rape, the importance of reporting it and the support available.
As well as the police support available, there are a number of other organisations in place to support victims of rape, such as St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, the Victim Support and Witness Service, Rape Crisis and M.A.S.H.
Dr Catherine White, Clinical Director at St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, commented: "St Mary’s is an independent service that offers free and confidential advice to all victims of rape.
Anyone who has been assaulted - whether recently or in the past, can access our services directly. These services include a comprehensive examination as well as ongoing one to one counselling and advice on related health issues."
FemaleFirst- Laura Terry