Don’t Cross the Line – new campaign to target sexual offences and rape

This in from the police, in their own words. Ed

A new campaign targeting young men is launching across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The two year long campaign to target incidents of sexual assault and rape goes live on Monday, November 17, 2014.

Online game launched
Via social media networks, men across the region will be asked to ‘test their pulling power’ using an online game, ‘Seal the Deal’. The game can be found here. The ‘Seal the deal’ YouTube game is designed to demonstrate to men what constitutes rape and sexual assault, particularly in the context of a night out

The game takes place from the perspective of the man and allows people playing the game to make choices about what move to make, whether to take no for an answer and when to go home.

Detective Chief Inspector Tara Williams said:

“This campaign aims to raise the awareness of consent; a person doesn’t have to say “no” to show they don’t want to have sex.
“We are targeting young men as statistically they are more likely to commit an offence. Whether you are 16 and getting drunk at a friends party or 28 and heading into town for a few drinks, the message is simple, cross the line and its rape.”

Nearly 50% of rapists know their victims
In 2013/14 there were 695 reported offences of rape and sexual assault in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, an increase of 9.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

Nearly half of all rapists know their victims and 21 per cent of rapes are committed by a current or ex partner

Increase in offences in Southampton
The cities of Southampton and Portsmouth remain force hotspots followed by Basingstoke. Southampton is the only city to have seen an increase in offences.

A series of posters using the strap line ‘Cross the line and its rape’ will be placed in men’s restrooms in bars and clubs across the two counties.

Women are also being encouraged to report any incidents of sexual assault or rape to the police ASAP.