Video: Sexual consent is as simple as making someone a cuppa

Between April and November this year there were 97 reports of sexual assaults in Dacorum alone, of these 45 were rape or attempted rape.

Herts Police has launched a new campaign for the festive season to ensure revellers are clear that sex without consent is rape.

And to bring home the message home a ‘simple as tea’ analogy is featured in an amusing but hard-hitting video at www.simpleastea.com.

Det Chief Insp Fiona Gaskell said: “We want to make sure that people have a clear understanding that preventing rape is not about potential victims having to change their behaviour, such as the way they dress or how much alcohol they drink, but about everyone understanding what constitutes rape.

“In law, a person consents if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

“The law is also clear that when sex is initially consented to, but later withdrawn, the person responsible will have committed rape.

“A person who is very drunk or unconscious cannot consent to sex so having sex with someone in this state could be rape.

“This is a clear message that we need everyone to understand.”

As part of the campaign, which also involves council, healthcare and charity partners, police will be in town centres in the run up to Christmas when they will be handing out branded lip balms, speaking to revellers, door staff and taxi drivers.

The Simple as Tea video was scripted by Hertfordshire born and bred blogger Rockstar Dinosaur Pirate Princess and created by Blue Seat Studios.

Victims of rape or sexual assault can report it to police on 101 or contact the Sexual Assault Referral Centre on (freephone) 0808 178 4488 or email [email protected].