Sexual violence is a term used to describe any act of a sexual nature that an individual did not consent to. This can include rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and taking, making, or sharing sexual images without someone’s consent. Separate guidance on sexual harassment can be found here.
Sexual violence can be perpetrated by a stranger or by someone known and trusted, including a friend, colleague, family member, partner, or ex-partner. Sexual violence can happen to anyone.
Everyone has the right to say 'no' to sex, to withdraw or withhold their consent for any sexual act, on any occasion and under any circumstances, regardless of whether they've given consent to sex with the other person in the past, and regardless of whether they are in a relationship with the other person or not.
What is consent?
In law, sexual consent is when we agree by choice, and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. You would not have been able to consent if:
- You were under the age of consent (16 years)
- You were subjected to violence or threats of violence
- Violence or threats of violence were made against someone else to force you to consent
- You were asleep, unconscious, drugged or incapacitated by alcohol
- Your disability meant you were not able to communicate your lack of consent
The video titled ‘Tea and Consent’ on the Thames Valley Police website provides a simple explanation of consent.
What is rape?
The legal definition of rape is when ‘a person intentionally penetrates another person’s vagina, anus or mouth with a penis without their consent’. Assault by penetration is when a person penetrates another person’s vagina, or anus with any part of the body other than a penis, or by using any object without their consent.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual or indecent assault is defined as an act of physical, psychological, and emotional violation, in the form of a sexual act, inflicted upon someone without their consent. It can involve forcing or manipulating someone to witness or participate in any sexual acts.
Not all cases of sexual assault involve violence, cause physical injury, or leave visible marks. Sexual assault can cause severe distress, emotional harm and injuries which can't be seen, all of which can take a long time to recover from. This is why the term 'assault' is used, and these reports are treated by the Police just as seriously as those of violent, physical attacks.
What is child sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse involves forcing or inciting a child to take part in sexual activity, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening and not necessarily involving a high level of violence.
This may involve physical contact including rape or oral sex, or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. Child sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or exploiting or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet) or prostitution.
Child sexual abuse can be committed by people of any gender identity or sexual orientation. It can also be committed by other children.
What is indecent exposure or flashing?
Indecent exposure (legally called just 'exposure' and sometimes known as 'flashing') is when someone deliberately exposes their genitals in order to frighten or upset someone else. It is a crime. People of any gender can commit indecent exposure. It can happen in public or in private. It is often upsetting and scary for the victim or survivor and can make them feel unsafe.
Indecent exposure can happen in person, but it can also happen online or via a text or instant messenger message, for example when someone sends another person an unwanted photo or video of either their genitals or someone else’s. This form of exposure is known as ‘cyberflashing’.
What ways can sexual images be taken, made and shared without consent?
The increased use of smartphones and online platforms has made it easier to take photographs or film, alter or create images and send images to our family and friends or the public at large. However, this also means that it is now easier to take or make images of others, or to distribute images of others, without their consent (whether the images were taken consensually or non-consensually in the first place). For example:
- ‘Upskirting’ is the act of taking an intrusive photograph under another person’s clothing without the person’s knowledge or consent with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks (with or without underwear).
- ‘Downblousing’ is the act of taking an intrusive photograph down a person’s blouse, shirt or dress without the person’s knowledge or consent.
- ‘Cyberflashing’ is the act of sending unsolicited photographs of a person’s genitals without consent either through social media apps, dating apps, or iPhone’s Air drop feature.
- ‘Revenge Porn’ is the act of showing or sharing private sexual photographs or videos of a person to another person or people, without the individual’s consent, with the intention of causing the individual embarrassment or distress.
- ‘Deepfake pornography’ is the act of using computer technology to map the faces of people on to explicit sexual material and made available online.