Essex Police has teamed up with pubs and bars, across the county, to launch a new arm of our perpetrator focussed #Reflect campaign around the issue of consent.
This new phase of the campaign, funded by Southend and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Partnership (SETDAB), asks people to consider their own actions and behaviour, and will be reflected on beer mats, in the restrooms of bars and pubs and on digital screens throughout shopping areas, from 28 November 2023.
With a simple and clear message; NO it’s not ON.
Consent underpins all forms of sexual violence and sexual abuse, and the majority of sexual offences happen in the home.
Chief Supt. Claire Talbot, force tactical lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, said: “Whether you are in a married or civil partnership, are dating someone new or you meet someone on a night out, consent still needs to be given for any form of sexual activity.
Anyone has the right to say no, change their mind or withdraw consent at any time.”
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “We are pleased to build on the good work of the #Reflect campaign which raises awareness of the way sexual abuse can manifest in relationships and the importance of consent.
We hope by encouraging people to seek support they need, we can make a real, lasting change which will reduce violence against women and girls, one of our policing priorities to get crime down.”
While sexual attacks by strangers do happen, the majority of sexual violence is perpetrated by someone the victim knows. This would include someone they are in a romantic or sexual relationship with, someone they are friends with, a work colleague, or someone in their family.
Sarah Griffin from The Change Project which supports those who want to change their behaviour, said: “The Change Project is committed to supporting people to have healthy relationships with others and this campaign gets to the heart of a subject that is not talked about widely enough. We hope this campaign encourages people to reach out for help to address aspects of their behaviour they may not be comfortable with”.
Click here to read more : https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2023/november/no-its-not-on/
