Do you get consent?
Sex without consent is rape. There is no place for ambiguity, presumption or pressure.
Presenting a united front, this campaign is in partnership with Rape Crisis, Trust House, Victim Support, Spring Lodge and the University of Lincoln.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are adding their voices in support of this very important campaign.
Working with the County Council Sexual Violence and Abuse Partnership, and as part of the wider #NoMore campaign, we aim to engage on the importance of being 100% clear on sexual consent.
Together, we spell out the simple message that sexual consent relies on the person having freedom and capacity to agree to sexual activity.
- Consent cannot be implied, assumed or ambiguous
- Consent is not the absence of objection; someone does not have to say “no”
- Consent for one thing does not imply consent for anything else
- Consent one day does not mean consent for another day
- Being married or in a relationship does not mean automatic consent
- Consent is not implied by clothing, attitude or behaviour
- Consent can be withdrawn at any time
- Someone drunk or on drugs may not have capacity to consent
- Someone who is unconscious cannot consent
- Consent given after being bullied, pestered, intimidated or threatened is not consent
Tea and consent
To highlight some of the ludicrous misconceptions, watch this simple cartoon called Tea and Consent (Copyright 2015 Emmeline May, rockstardinosaurpirateprincess.com and Rachel Brian blueseatstudios.com).
Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones offered his support for the campaign. Standing alongside the Deputy Chief at the campaign launch, he said, "Consent really is a simple concept and yet misconceptions and myths sadly still exist in some minds. I fully support Lincolnshire Police in this campaign to educate those people who still don’t get it. You need to be clear on consent; there is no place for ambiguity, presumption or pressure."
Julie Spencer, Head of Student Wellbeing at the University of Lincoln said, "We’re pleased to support the #GetConsent campaign and raise awareness of important issues around consent, appropriate behaviour, and staying safe. The University and the Students’ Union have been very proactive on this topic, and we’ve worked on a number of projects to build understanding and healthy attitudes.
"It’s very important that young people discuss consent, and open and transparent campaigns like this empower people to make smart choices, speak out if they need to, and most importantly, feel supported."
Charlotte Caulton-Scott from the CPS explained the prevalence of consent in the cases they deal with, “The issue of whether the victim consented or not is the key feature of the majority of cases we prosecute. Rape is not just about attacks by strangers in dark alleyways.
"The issue of consent affects partners, married couples and friends. Any kind of unwanted sexual activity is without consent and is therefore an offence. It is certainly not the case that an allegation will be ignored because it seems as though is one person’s word against another’s.
"The CPS will always look to build a case, working with the police to find what evidence we can use to prove to a jury that a victim has not consented. Having worked with so many victims of rape, we at the CPS know just how traumatic this offence can be; we know that it can destroy a victim’s sense of self-worth and cause life-long damage. I hope that this campaign will make people think about what consent means; it is everyone’s responsibility to understand its meaning and know whether someone really consents to sexual activity."
Laura Wint-McKane, CEO, Lincolnshire Rape Crisis said, "As an organisation we continue to see the impact and trauma caused by the lack of awareness and the lack of respect for consent. As a specialist organisation we react to the devastating effects of consent not being sought and gained. We also raise awareness and educate that anything less than an individual having the capacity to physically, intellectually, and emotionally give an enthusiastic YES is not consent. The importance of awareness raising campaigns is enormous and we are pleased to see that Lincolnshire Police are working with specialists to deliver their message."
If you need help
Call 101 (or 999 in an emergency)
Or, if you don’t want to speak to police contact one of these support agencies:
Lincolnshire Rape Crisis
Supporting women, men and children who have experienced, been affected by or are at risk of sexual violence
Spring Lodge Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
A dedicated service to meet the needs of victims of rape or sexual assault in Lincolnshire.
Victim Support
Tel: 0300 303 0158
An independent charity offering support to help you move beyond the impact of crime. Victim Support run a special project supporting children and young people who have experienced rape and sexual abuse.