Sexual Assault & Rape

WARNING - explicit language. 

Rape and other forms of sexual assault are serious crimes. Know your rights and where and how to get help.

Report a crime: In Oxfordshire, you should report crime to Thames Valley Police. In an emergency, call 999 (this will work from any phone). You can also call 101 to talk to your local police force about any crime.

What is rape?

Rape means being forced to have sex against your will. Men and women can be victims. If you are under 18 and are raped, this is child abuse. 

More information: Find out more about sexual assault from Childline. 

Consent:

Whenever any contact happens between people, there should be consent. 

Crucial: Nothing sexual should happen between people without full consent. Find out more about consent.

Drug Rape

You may have heard of something called ‘drug rape’ or ‘spiking’. This is when a person is given a substance like a drink or drug that makes them unaware of what’s happening to them.

Drug rape can cause blackouts (where you are not aware of what you are doing) and memory loss. 

Crucial: Having sex with someone who is not capable of consent (for example if they are drugged or very drunk) is rape.

Although it's important staying safe when out and about, you have the right to be safe.

Reporting a rape or sexual assault

It is helpful to report as research shows that people who sexually assault others often repeat the behaviour. But whether or not to report is an individual decision. Many people find that telling someone helps them heal and recover.

Crucial: Find out more from the NHS. If you talk to the police, they have to take you seriously. If you are under 18, then what has happened is child abuse. 

Child Sexual Exploitation

When rape or sexual assault happens as part of process of taking a child away from their family, friends and schooling it is called child sexual exploitation.

In these situations, abusers will often tell the child that they will not be believed by police, or will be prosecuted for crimes they have committed. This is not true. You can report rape or sexual assault under these circumstances and action will be taken to stop the abuse.

Crucial: Child sexual exploitation is a crime – the police and social services will act to stop it happening. In an emergency, call 999.

You will be taken seriously 

It is your decision whether or not you decide to report the attack.

Instant expert: Find out more about rape and sexual assault from Thames Valley Police.

Taking care of your health

Whether or not you report an offence, you should still visit your Sexual Health Clinic or GP to check for Sexually Transmitted Infections, pregnancy and injuries.

No matter what has happened or when it happened, non-judgemental support is available to help you heal and recover.