Crime author Peter James to join live debate about consensual sex
CRIME novelist Peter James will be on the Sussex Police website on Thursday (September 13) to hold a live debate about consensual sex.
The hour-long broadcast will give teenagers the chance to get involved in the debate, watch a film tackling the issue - which was scripted by Mr James - and put questions to the author and Detective Inspector Miles Ockwell, who supports victims of rape and sexual assault.
A representative from The Saturn Centre, which provides support for victims of rape and sexual assault, will also be taking questions and young people will have the opportunity to find out what support is on offer.
Mr James worked with Sussex Police and students from Brighton University on the film, Rape - Short Word, Long Sentence, which is part of an educational programme aimed at 15 and 16-year-olds.
The programme is designed to prompt discussions on alcohol and drug abuse and personal safety during consensual sex.
DI Ockwell said the police wanted to educate young people on what consent means and that consent should be as much a consideration before sex as contraception.
He said: “Rape is a subject not often talked about among young people, but we want to get people talking openly about it.
“We want to educate young people on what consent means and that alcohol does have an effect on whether sex is consensual.
“We’re opening it up for discussion to get people thinking about this really important subject. There is support out there and available for people to talk to about rape and its affects.”
Mr James added: “I have spoken to rape victims and they describe the effect is like their soul is in pain.
“That shows why it’s so important that people know there is help out there for them.
“Stranger rape is one that we read about most often but it is extremely rare. More than 80 per cent of rapes are committed by an apparent friend; someone at the victim’s school, someone the victim has met at a party or bar, or a member of their family.
“The seemingly simple scenario of a girl and boy having a bit too much to drink can lead to disaster. The boy coming on too strong and not taking notice when the girl says ‘no’, can all too easily lead to a rape.”
You can join in the live video chat between 3pm and 4pm.
The live chat is part of Sussex Police People, a mixture of officers and staff from across the force who blog and tweet about their lives in and outside of work. All questions can be put forward anonymously.
Questions can be taken via the live chat facility on the Sussex Police website or via Twitter @sussex_police, @peterjamesuk and @DI_Ockwell or use #SPPLive
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Friday 24 May 2013
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