THAMES Valley Police is urging women to let their hair down, but not their guard this Christmas, as part of a hard hitting poster campaign to raise awareness of the links between excessive drinking and sexual assault.
The two posters, one of which targets women and the other which targets men, will be displayed in pubs and clubs across the Aylesbury Vale to try and encourage people to take some responsibility for their own safety and actions by not drinking too much.
Both posters contain the shocking statistic that alcohol features in two thirds of all rapes committed.
Detective Inspector Chris Inness said: "This campaign not only targets women who may become vulnerable through the consumption of alcohol, but also men who may find themselves facing a rape allegation.
"The message for men out and about in Buckinghamshire over the festive season is simple, 'no consent, no sex'.
"If a woman is too drunk to knowingly give consent to sex then in the eyes of the law it is rape and the offender could be facing a long jail sentence.
"The second part of the campaign is aimed at getting women to think about their own personal safety.
"We see many cases where women have been drinking excessively and have no idea or control over what is happening to them.
"It's only the following day when they start piecing together the night before that they realise something happened which they didn't want to.
"We hope that this campaign will make people think about drinking responsibly and stop more women becoming victims of this kind of offence."
Tips for Safer Drinking:
- Make sure you have had something to eat before a night out – never go out drinking on an empty stomach.
- Drink water before you go out so you don't start the evening feeling thirsty.
- Decide how much you are going to drink before you go out and stick to your limit.
- Alternate your alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink to help pace yourself.
- Have a bite to eat during the evening – this helps slow down alcohol absorption.
- Avoid binge or heavy drinking and don't be afraid to miss out a couple of rounds.
Don't make it easy for your drink to be spiked by leaving it unattended and never accept a drink from a stranger.
Tips for a Safer Night Out:
- Keep an eye on your mates and stick together so you can look out for each other.
- Don't flash your cash or mobile phone when you're out – you could become a target for thieves.
- Avoid confrontations and fights.
- Plan your night out - think about how you are going to get home before you go out pre-book a licensed taxi or know the times of the last bus or train to get you home.
- Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back.
- Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged so you can contact friends and family if needed or call 999 in an emergency.
