Love Island star Georgia Harrison launches new sexual consent campaign in Reading

A reality TV star and campaigner has helped Thames Valley Police launch a new campaign, targeting the issues and taboos around sexual consent.

There is a still an alarming lack of public understanding about what constitutes rape and other sexual offences, according to research commissioned by the Crown Prosecution Service.

And in a world of social media, online spaces and situationships, the research found those aged 18 to 24 are more likely to misunderstand or support misconceptions about sexual consent.

A seminar, panel discussion and documentary – filmed around Reading – took place on White Ribbon Day yesterday (Monday) at Reading Biscuit Factory and was supported by members of the public and community groups including Reading Pride.

Speaking at the event, reality TV star and campaigner Georgia Harrison, a victim of online revenge porn, told newburytoday about the aims of the Consent Conversations campaign.

“The CPS study found that so many young people were really confused on where the line is when it comes to consent,” said the ex-Love Islander.

“Just because someone hasn’t straightaway said ‘no’, that doesn’t mean they are consenting to a sexual experience.

“You need to be really sure that they’re not frozen or scared.

“A lot of them didn’t realise when it comes to drugs and alcohol, that makes no difference. The consent is exactly the same.

“We’ve got a real issue, and we need to be talking to each other, with our friends, family and peers, and where the lines are drawn with it.”

Student outcomes coordinator at the University of Reading, Tamima Haque, attended the screening with her peers.

She said: “Consent is something I’m very familiar with, because in my culture, consent is so taboo.

“What interested me is that I’ve got my personal experiences with the issue of not consenting and people not understanding when no means no.”

Detective chief inspector Laura Corscadden added: “We've learnt a lot through our investigations to try and challenge some of those assumptions.

“I think it takes a lot for [victims] to question and really believe that something like that can happen to them.

“I'm not sure we can really fully understand the impact of Covid.

“We've seen that a lot of young people have almost missed a couple of years of those social interactions, and there's almost a bit of a rush to meet those milestones.”

The new campaign will be raising awareness through engagement with schools, universities, clubs and festivals.

District crown prosecutor with the CPS Claire Wiggett said: “The law on consent is quite clear.

“Consent can only be given if somebody has the freedom to make a choice and is capable of making that choice at the time.

“But this isn't only about what consent is. This is also about whether or not the other person had the reasonably held belief in consent, and that means did they genuinely believe that the other person was consenting at the time.

“My message to anyone in that situation is, if you're not sure if somebody is perhaps not being an active participant, or is moving away, or is particularly quiet, stop, check and bear in mind all those assumptions and misconceptions in order to make the right choices to stay safe.”

You can call 101 or visit https://tinyurl.com/mw4n2ne2 to report a case of rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences.

Alternatively, contact the Sexual Assault Referral Centres by visiting https://tinyurl.com/28wrme87 if something has happened within the last few days and you’re not ready to talk to the police yet.