Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think that West Mercia Police need to take this poster off their website

246 replies

DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:18

here

they have already apologised for another poster story but the poster on their site is, in my opinion, also pretty offensive.

"Alcohol features in two thirds of all rapes, we want people to enjoy the party season and let their hair down without letting their guard down"

where are their campaigns aimed at men or aimed at taking women seriously?

OP posts:
Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:19

maybe they should be saying 'Rapists feature in 100% of rapes'?

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 03/08/2012 11:21

'Rapists feature in 100% of rapes'?

Fantastic idea. Would make a refreshing change from 'behave yourselves, ladies' finger-wagging nonsense that helps nobody

geegee888 · 03/08/2012 11:22

What about focussing on the likely perpetrators of rape, rather than the potential victims? Is it the victim's duty to avoid being attacked, or the perpetrator's duty not to attack?

Do we see many posters along the lines of "Young men: don't drink and walk home along the street in case you are the victim of violence"?

Gender based stereotyping much?

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:22

more crap here

this has really pissed me off.

"Another poster aimed at men has also sparked fury - because it only says they "could" be breaking the law if someone hasn't given them consent for sex." Shock

OP posts:
cricketballs · 03/08/2012 11:25

I read it that they are telling you to be careful that no one slips anything into your drink also that the majority of rapes happen to women who are very worse for wear (remember that footballers trial the other month)....not telling women not to drink

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:28

this is soooo much better

OP posts:
Ithinkitsjustme · 03/08/2012 11:29

At the risk of getting flamed I thought it was quite a good poster - they should aim one at the men as well, but if it makes one person think about their safety while drinking then it is a good thing. It's also got a lot of people talking about it.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:30

"are telling you to be careful that no one slips anything into your drink also that the majority of rapes happen to women who are very worse for wear "

I should be allowed to be comatose (asleep) without having to accept that I might be raped if there's a rapist around! And I don't see why I should spend my life sitting worrying if someone has slipped something into my drink... I might never visit a coffee shop again if that were my responsibility!

All those posters are saying is that women can stop themselves from being raped and that is not true.

OP posts:
Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:31

there was one aimed at men, it said that if a man had sex without consent then he 'could' be breaking the law.

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 03/08/2012 11:32

women aren't responsible for a mans decision to rape them - letting their 'guard' down isn't the issue - why make women the focus of a campaign - men are, on the whole, the ones doing the rape

OptimisticPessimist · 03/08/2012 11:35

Horrid campaign. They haven't even apologised, not really. Just said they apologise if anyone was distressed by it.

This is an excellent campaign from Vancouver, and IIRC it led to a reduction in sexual assault/rape.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:36

blog

OP posts:
Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:37

Sorry - posted too soon - from that blog

"this dual-gender campaign implies that responsibility for preventing rape is something that divides 50/50 between the sexes. Our culture and our justice system still often endorse this belief, which is why it is no surprise that our conviction rate for rape remains pitifully low. Whether both, neither or one of the parties involved has been drinking is irrelevant ? 100% of the responsibility for forcing one?s penis into a woman?s vagina, anus or mouth lies with the man who chooses those actions. It seems so simple, yet even those meant to be protecting women and getting rapists off our streets seem unable to grasp it. And so we find ourselves in this culture of victim-blaming."

OP posts:
cricketballs · 03/08/2012 11:37

they are not saying that women can stop themselves being raped but but they need to take precautions to try and remain safe. Of course we should all be able to do what we want/where we want without the threat of this but we have to be realistic

caramelwaffle · 03/08/2012 11:38

That poster is excellent! Dueling and should be used in all police force areas.

worth repeating!

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:39

"The poster aimed at men is similarly problematic. While you it is refreshing to see a campaign warning perpetrators not to commit rape, this one is misguided and inaccurate. The caption is the same as on the poster aimed at women: "Don't let a night full of promise turn into a morning full of regret". West Mercia police warn men that they should not commit sexual assault because they, "could lose [their] job and be placed on the sex offenders register". Not because it's wrong. No, you just might lose your job. They also, confusingly, state that "if someone has not given their consent to sex or touching, you could be breaking the law". As Jocelyn pointed out, if someone has not given their consent you are breaking the law. This should not be a grey area"

blog

OP posts:
JumpingThroughHoops · 03/08/2012 11:40

With Cricketballs

Rape shouldn't happen. But it does. Therefore you minimise the risk by being aware, remaining safe with friends, organising a lift home.

It is raising awareness that you may not be safe even if you think you are. No bad thing IMHO.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:42

cricketballs - maybe read the blog-posts I just linked to?
they explain why rape is not a 50/50 issue where women and men should share the blame, it is 100% the fault of a rapist. The second blog I linked to shows you how the language used on the poster aimed at men is wholly inappropriate.

OP posts:
BlackOutTheSun · 03/08/2012 11:43

But jumping, in that case your not safe anywhere, at home, work, going to the shops...

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:45

Even if I am drunk and happen to be around a rapist who targets drunk people it is still not my fault if he rapes me and police poster campaigns should not be suggesting in any way that it might be.

OP posts:
OptimisticPessimist · 03/08/2012 11:45

Having actually looked at the West Mercia page for the campaign, I'm even more angry. Women - getting drunk means someone might rape you and it will be YOUR FAULT. Men - getting drunk means you might lose control of yourself and accidentally rape someone, and it could lose you your job. WTAF?!

WorraLiberty · 03/08/2012 11:47

I'm torn on this because whilst I totally agree with what the OP is saying, I also think young people need to be reminded that alcohol does play a big factor in people putting themselves at risk.

That risk can involve getting raped, violently assaulted, run over, lost, mugged etc...

It can (and does) come across a bit like victim blaming but in actual fact, they're just putting out a reminder that alcohol is a big factor in people losing their inhibitions and making some decisions that they themselves probably wouldn't have made if they had been sober.

However, the ad that said "If a man had sex without consent then he 'could' be breaking the law." Well that's just wrong on every single level.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 03/08/2012 11:49

OptimisticPessimist - yes, it's quite offensive to men isn't it. And the 'could' be breaking the law statement actually suggests that they are aware that some men do get off even when no consent is given. It's like a warning to men - watch out lads, you might end up getting in trouble because some drunk woman could accuse you of rape if you're not careful. You know what they're like, these drunk women.

OP posts:
JumpingThroughHoops · 03/08/2012 11:50

But jumping, in that case your not safe anywhere, at home, work, going to the shops...

Exactly! plenty of cases where someone has been raped by an intruder, dragged down a alley at twilight on the way to the shops, and dare I say sexual misconduct at work is forever in the press.

So raising awareness of what keep you safe is no bad thing IMHO.

When I was growing up the rape campaigns centred on walking down the middle of a road so an assailant couldn't jump you from behind a hedge or fence. And you'd take off silly shoes and walk barefoot so you could run. And you always kept your key in your hand so you could jab 'em in the eye. Always sit with other people in a railway carriage etc etc

People do tend to think mainly that rape is a violent crime, perpetrated by strangers jumping out from hedges on a cold winters night. Reality is very much different.

However those awareness adverts were early attempts to empower women to be more responsible and aware when travelling alone. And I still walk with my key in my hand!

Birdsgottafly · 03/08/2012 11:50

I don't disagree with the first link, because spiking drinks is rife in Liverpool at the moment. The poster warns about leaving drinks unattended for both men and women.

The deadly 'Pink M's' came from Liverpool and where easily available.

We are still fumming after my DD's friend (m DD didn't attend) has had her phone stolen, after being allowed to wander drunkedly out of a party in a very rough area, alone, where prostitutes work.

There was a spate of male gay rapes that hit the news and there are a lot of violent attacks on lone males.

Some of the posters remind us to look after each other and teens need this. Not all campaigns are aimed at mature adults.