Rape and sexual assault are very serious crimes. Anyone can be a victim or survivor of rape or sexual assault, no matter how old they are or whether they're male or female.

What is rape & sexual assault?

Rape and sexual assault is basically any unwanted sexual experience. Rape is when someone forces or makes another person have sex against their will or without their permission or consent. Although most survivors/victims of this are women, there are also many cases where men have been victims. Sexual assault however covers any sort of sexual contact and behaviour that is unwanted, e.g. touching or kissing.

Consent (permission) is defined as:

“A person consents to have sex if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.”

You may not know it, but most rapes and sexual assaults are committed within relationships or committed by someone the victims/survivor may know, a friend, acquaintance or family member. While it is a smaller proportion that is committed by strangers or someone the survivor/victim may have just met, but those are the ones you tend to hear more about in the papers or on the news.

Being a survivor/victim of rape or sexual assault can be a very traumatising experience and the first thing you might want to do is to try and forget about it. However, it may not feel like it, but you are never alone and talking to someone about it will help. See below for advice about services and who you could talk to in confidence.

See the downloads below for more information, especially ‘Facts about Rape and Sexual Assault’ and information you need to know about the ‘Sexual Offences Act’

Drug spiking or date rape

Sometimes rape or sexual assault can occur when someone is given drugs without their knowledge so that they become confused and unaware about what is happening to them. Drugs can be added to a drink or some food quite easily without the victim noticing.

• Always make sure you keep yourself and your friends safe.
• Always take your drink with you if you're going to the toilet or to make a telephone call; never leave it unattended.
• Think twice before accepting drinks from someone you don’t know well.
• Watch your drink being poured and do not leave it unattended. That way no one can spike it or add more alcohol to it.
• People don’t always need to use drugs to make you vulnerable, alcohol alone is far more likely to put you at risk.

Under the new Sexual Offences Act, it is now an arrestable offense to have prepared or tried to spike someone’s drink. The rape or assault of someone does not need to have happened in order for someone to be arrested and charged with a crime.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 also states that someone who is drunk cannot willingly give permission to have sex and therefore it is considered under the law to be rape.

Drugs however are not always needed. The reality is that alcohol alone is far more likely to put you at risk. Indeed most rape and sexual assaults that happen involve alcohol in some way. Either the survivor/victim is drunk or the perpetrator is drunk.

Advice for young people

• If anything like this happens, remember! It’s never, ever your fault. No matter what it said or done.
• There is never, ever any excuse or justification for rape or sexual assault!
• There is always someone who you can turn to.
• If anything happens to you, never keep it to yourself. Tell a friend or someone you trust. There are also counseling services available where you can go and talk and get things off your mind. Don’t let it twist in your head! (See list of Services below)
• Rape and sexual assault can happen anywhere. At someone’s house, at a party, on the beach, in a club or in the street.
• If you are in a public place make as much noise as you can to attract someone’s attention. If shouting HELP or RAPE doesn’t get anyone’s attention, you could try shouting FIRE.
• If you can, report it to the police. They can offer you specialist support and will do their best to help you. It’s important that a serious crime like this is reported to the police, so that the police and authorities know these people and can stop them from doing it again to someone else. 

Downloads

What to do:  This download gives you more information and advice about what you can do if you are a survivor/victim of rape or sexual assault.

Services which can help: This download gives you more information about support services in Brighton & Hove and nationally which can help.

Links

www.truthaboutrape.co.uk/

The Truth about rape campaign gives you lots of information about rape and sexual assault. The site addresses some myths and attitudes which exist in society and provides you with information about where you can get help and support.

www.faceup2it.org/

Face up to it is website was developed by young people and for young people to raise awareness of sexual exploitation and abuse. It gives you some good information about these serious issues and explains a bit about it.

www.respect4us.org.uk/

The respect for us website is designed for young people and explains more about crime, respect and life style choices.

www.donthideit.com/

Don’t hide it is a simple and good website about sexual abuse developed by the NSPCC. It gives you information in a clear and simple way and gives you advice and information about what you can do and who you can turn to for help and support.

www.rapecrisis.org.uk/

Rape Crisis is a charity set up to support the survivors of rape and sexual assault. They have loads of information on the website, and can also advise about help and support services.

www.swish.org.uk/

Swish is the local Brighton & Hove sexual health website designed for young people. They have loads of information and advice about all manner of issues to do with sexual health and local sexual health services in the city.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Think u know is website designed to give you loads of good information and advice about staying safe online. It has information about how to have fun on the internet in a safe way and how to help you stay in control of what happens on the net.

www.stopitnow.org.uk/

The stop it now campaign aims to raise awareness throughout society of child abuse and child welfare issues. They offer a range of advice and information regarding child abuse and what parents and carers can do to help and protect children.

www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2003/20030042.htm

This link to the Office of Public sector Information provides a copy of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and gives you a break down of all the crimes now listed within the Act.