Rape victims urged not to suffer in silence

A hard-hitting poster campaign aimed at highlighting the emotive issue of rape has been launched by Norfolk Constabulary.

The Constabulary’s move coincides with the National Rape Awareness Campaign running from Monday 30 November until Friday 4 December.

However, with the festive season just around the corner the Force has chosen to run its initiative for four weeks in a bid to raise awareness about potential vulnerable situations and also to urge victims to speak out.

Detective Superintendent, Chris Hobley, head of the Constabulary’s Vulnerable Persons Directorate, said: “It is not about people not going out and enjoying themselves, it is about the fact during such a time individuals can seek to take advantage of a situation.

“During the festive season there is a potential for people to get into situations they never intended to and suddenly become very vulnerable.

“Norfolk Constabulary is committed to tackling this type of crime, bringing the offenders to justice and preventing them from committing further offences.

“We have specially trained officers in place to provide a first response to victims of rape and support them through the criminal justice process along with a dedicated team of detectives formed this summer to investigate rapes.”

In the 12 months to September 2009 154 offences of rape were recorded by Norfolk Constabulary compared with 142 in the 12 months to September 2008.

In the 12 months to September 2009 there were 49 prosecutions compared with 35 in the 12 months to September 2008 – an increase of 14.

Some 72.3% of cases that went to court in the 12 months to September 2009 resulted in conviction – compared with 71.5% nationally.

As well as the hundreds of posters being distributed across the county a series of radio adverts – from both male and female perspectives – will be aired locally.

Two of the posters feature photographs of a woman one with the words ‘I said yes to a drink, not to sex’ the other with the words ‘Let your hair down, not your guard’.

A third advert features the image of a man in a police cell and the words ‘RAPE short word – long sentence’.

Posters will be issued across the county to licensed and other relevant premises. A number will also be displayed on First Eastern Counties Buses.

Det Supt Hobley, added: “Our aim is to raise awareness about the risks posed to potential victims and to reduce incidents of rape.

“It is an appreciation that consent means consent and that non consent means rape.

“We want more people to come forward and report rape at as early a stage as possible to give our officers the best possible chance to ensure the offender is put before the courts. However, we do recognise that coming forward can be a difficult step for a victim to take and we will investigate cases that are reported to us whatever the timeframe.

“As soon as a rape is reported to us it is taken very seriously, whatever the circumstances may be, including if it has taken place within a relationship.

“If the victim says “I did not give my consent” then that is the starting point for us.

“Sadly around 40% of victims do not tell anybody that it has happened.

“These are people who have been through the whole experience and who haven’t felt the confidence to come forward.

“There are victims out there who need help and if they come forward they can be reassured that we will do everything we can to support them.”

Norfolk Constabulary works very closely with a number of agencies including SeVA - a charity committed to supporting and empowering the survivors of sexual violence, Victim Support and Surviving Together - a self-help support group for women adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Key Points:

• In Norfolk alcohol features in one third of all rapes.
• The peak periods are Saturday and Sunday – together they account for 40% of reported rapes and peak times are 10pm to 3am.
• Average age of victims is 22 – with the largest number of victims being in the age range of 16 to 24.
• Majority of offenders fall within 16 to 20 and 26 to 34 years-old.
• Sexual violence and abuse disproportionally affects women and girls.
• Some 23% of woman and 3% of men experience sexual assault as an adult.
• At least 5% of women and 0.4% of men experience rape.
• Rape is associated with the most severe cases of domestic abuse and is a risk factor in domestic murder.
• Most perpetrators of rape are known to the victim and many are partners or family members.
• Sexual violence can cause long term and severe harm.
• 40% of victims tell no-one about it.