About this campaign
Our Don’t Cross The Line campaign is designed to tackle issues around serious sexual offences by increasing interaction, promoting debate and providing access to information.
It aims to raise awareness of the chain of events that can lead to rape, dispel common myths and provide information that will enable people to make the right decisions. Ultimately it is about keeping young people safe. We will proactively explain rape in their terms, on their territory, before it is too late.
Previous national and local campaigns have focussed on women and the risk they put themselves under through alcohol consumption. The emphasis has been on them taking steps to protect themselves. Rather than place the onus on women, we’ve taken the unique approach of focusing on young men. We want potential offenders to consider their actions, while also raising awareness of acquaintance rape so that women can keep themselves safe.
The issue of consent is right at the centre of this. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 stipulates that a defendant in a rape case must show that they have reasonable grounds to believe that the other person had given their consent. The campaign aims to reduce incidents of rape by ensuring that men understand the need to gain active consent before they have sex.
Going into schools
We are working with Hampshire schools to design a comprehensive support package for teachers and people that work with young people. This includes lesson plans, interactive activities, showing Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sexual Assault Referral Centre’s DVD ‘Rape: short word long sentence’ and other tailored materials for a range of age groups.
Presentation will be delivered by Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and/or Safer Schools Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), with a member of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to cover areas of law and practical issues around investigating serious sexual assault.
Where we are going?
Our primary focus is on acquaintance rape but throughout the year we will be running different campaigns to further increase confidence in reporting sexual offences, particularly among our black minority ethnic groups.
How you can get involved?
To get your organisation involved with this innovative and unique campaign or to discuss our long-term plan, please contact Hampshire Constabulary’s Corporate Communications Department on 0845 045 45 45 or email corporate.comms@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
