LEGAL DEFINITIONS

You can call Bristol Rape Crisis whatever you have experienced, and you do not need to be involved with the police or criminal justice system.

Below are some legal definitions of a few offences which are classed as sexual violence, there are many more than the ones listed below.

For more information on sexual violence go to: www.rapecrisis.org.uk/rape.html

For legal advice for women go to: www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/adviceline.php

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RAPE

Rape is unwanted sex that you did not consent to; this includes oral sex and anal sex. This includes forced sex by a partner, husband, friend, family member, or acquaintance, whatever there relationship to you, if you did not consent it is rape.

 ‘Consent’ is defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as, an agreement by choice, the person must have had the freedom and capacity to make that choice. If a person threatens the safety of you, or someone or something that you care about, if you do not agree to have sex with them then this is not consent and is rape.

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ASSAULT BY PENETRATION

Assault by penetration is when the person’s mouth, vagina or anus is penetrated, in a sexual way, without consent. Penetration may be by an object eg. a vibrator, bottle etc,  or part of the body other than a penis eg finger or tongue.

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SEXUAL ASSAULT

Sexual assault is the touching of someone, in a sexual way, with out their consent. This used to be called indecent assault.

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CAUSING A PERSON TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Is when someone forcing or manipulates a person to witness or participate in any sexual acts, such as masturbation, or watching or acting out pornography.