GMP launch rape awareness TV campaign

Date published: 26 November 2007

Greater Manchester Police is this week taking the unusual step of screening TV ads across the North West.  

The commercials form part of a week-long awareness campaign to try to cut the number of young women who fall victim to a rapist and increase reporting in the run up to Christmas.

Officers say that serious sexual assaults often take place between newly-made acquaintances or with people who know each other and often when they’ve had a drink.

The adverts show two people meeting up for the first time and enjoying an evening partying before a kiss and a cuddle gets out-of-hand.

The 60-second films show the aftermath from both the victim and offender perspective.

Police hope to force home two important messages – that sex without consent is a crime and can lead to a lengthy jail term and that there is help and support for people who have been sexually assaulted.

Detective Chief Inspector Carol Ashworth of Greater Manchester Police said: "We take rape extremely seriously and constantly strive to improve the service and support we give to victims.  We empower them to make informed decisions about what they want the outcome to be and where we can, make sure offenders are brought to justice.

"It is a very traumatic and upsetting time for victims, which is why we have specially trained officers who can give help and support from the initial report and throughout the investigation to going to court.

"Many young men, like in the commercial, don’t realise the consequences of their actions and I hope the ad makes them understand that they are committing a crime if they fail to gain consent for sex."

But it is not just the police who can help during this distressing time. GMP also works closely with St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, the Victim Support amp; Witness Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and many other voluntary organisations such as M.A.S.H. and Rape Crisis.

Dr Catherine White, Clinical Director at St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre said: "These ads are a powerful reminder of how rape can devastate people’s lives and that there are excellent support and counselling services in place to help them.  Although we hope that this campaign will give people the confidence to report such an incident, they can also self refer themselves to the Centre."