Campaign to raise awareness of women's safety

Jan 7 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness of women’s safety in West Lothian is set to run throughout this month.

Police, in partnership with Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (EWRASAC) and Rape Crisis Scotland have launched a rape awareness campaign designed around the previously successful ‘this is not an invitation to rape me’ campaign.

The postcard campaign is part of Lothian and Borders Police response to the National Anti Violence campaign.

The national campaign, which focuses on all forms of domestic abuse will continue until January 31.

The Lothian and Borders Police campaign also supports Women’s Aid 16 days of action to end violence against women.

The campaign will involve police officers, police staff and Special Constables distributing postcards depicting women enjoying themselves in a social setting with the direct message that ‘drinking is not a crime.... but rape is’.

Detective Superintendent Lesley Boal said: “A very high proportion of all reported rapes are committed by men who are ‘known’ to the woman in some way, either as a relative, family friend, neighbour or someone they have met socially previously.

“While the previous ‘this is not an invitation to rape me’ campaign was designed to encourage discussion and challenged a number of unacceptable attitudes, one being that women are wholly or partly responsible for being raped if they have been drinking, our campaign is designed to give a clear, unambiguous message that drinking is not a crime - but rape is.

“Let us be clear - sex without consent is rape, responsibility for rape will always lie with the rapist and Lothian and Borders Police will robustly investigate every report of rape.

“For those who either ply any individual with alcohol for the purposes of sexually exploiting them or sexually exploit them when they are already incapable of giving consent our message is also very clear - you may very well find yourself being investigated for serious sexual crime, prosecuted, convicted, imprisoned and placed on the sex offender register.”

Sandy Brindley, National Co-ordinator for Rape Crisis Scotland, said while it’s important for women to know how to stay safe, it’s equally important for men to behave responsibly, and legally.

She said: “Rape Crisis Scotland fully supports this new campaign. Many women blame themselves for rape if they have been drinking.

“Too often public safety messages focus on what women can do to keep themselves safe. While there is a role for this, it is refreshing to see such a clear message from the police.

“The message is clear – if you are not sure if someone is capable of consenting to sex, assume they are not.”