Rape fears from binge drinking

8:00am Wednesday 3rd December 2008

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POLICE chiefs in Bury have launched a hard-hitting campaign warning people of the dangers of drinking too much on a night out and leaving themselves vulnerable to rape and sexual assaults.

Posters will be distributed to pubs and clubs to highlight messages, such as “sex without consent is a crime and can lead to a lengthy jail term” and “let your hair down, not your guard”.

A rape awareness campaign is running through Greater Manchester to reduce incidents of rape and sexual assault over the Christmas period.

Detective Inspector Colin Larkin, of the force’s public protection and investigation unit, said the campaign aimed to highlight issues surrounding personal safety during the party season.

“Although the vast majority of people don't experience any problems on a night out, too much alcohol can create a false sense of security and cause them to be more vulnerable to crime,” he said.

Between April 1 and October 31, there were 526 rapes and attempted rapes reported in Greater Manchester. Alcohol featured in two thirds of the incidents, which are expected to increase over the Christmas period.