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Recognise and get support for sexual assault and rape

Rape and sexual assault is a crime regardless of your sex, gender or sexuality. Being pressured or forced to have sex or engage in sexual activity when you do not want to is a serious crime.

Warning If there is immediate danger to you or someone else, call the police immediately on 999. 

Experiencing or witnessing rape or sexual abuse is deeply traumatic. It’s crucial to know that help and support are available, and you have the right to report incidents. 
If your partner, or former partner, has sex with you when you don’t want to, this is rape. It is important to report it and get the necessary help and support.  

Why you should report it

Reporting rape and sexual assault is a vital step toward justice and healing. It helps:

  • ensure safety: Reporting can prevent further abuse and protect others.
  • seek justice: Legal proceedings may hold perpetrators accountable. 
  • access support services: Victims can obtain medical care, counselling, and other forms of assistance.

Identify sexual abuse

Below are examples of different types of sexual abuse or assault. Does your partner, former partner, or a family member do any of the following?

Rape

  • Force you to have sex against your will
  • Trick you into having unsafe sex (without using a condom or other barrier method of contraception)
  • Force you, or try to force you, to do any sexual act you did not consent to. It can include forced kissing, inappropriate touching, or penetration
  • Force you to have sex with other people or to become a sex worker 
  • Use threats, blackmail, bribery, guilt, intimidation, or manipulation to make you perform sexual acts
  • Force you to have sex in front of children, or other people
  • Have sex with you when you can't consent freely, for example, if you are:
    • under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication
    • under the age of consent (16)
    • under the age of 18, and the other person is in a position of responsibility (such as a teacher) 
    • any age, if the other person is exploiting a position of power or trust (such as a police officer, or your doctor)
    • a vulnerable adult (for example, because you have a severe mental impairment, serious mental illness or dementia) 

Other forms of sexual assault and abuse 

  • Force you to take part in non-consensual masturbation (of either or both persons) 
  • Make sexual comments to you that make you feel uncomfortable 
  • Sexual harassment and assault, including inappropriate looking, touching, and sexual insults or teasing
  • Indecent exposure (or 'flashing')
  • Make you watch pornography if you don't want to, or in front of children
  • Share, or threaten to share, explicit images of you without your consent
  • Degrade you during sex, such as calling you names, spitting, biting, punching, or hurting you 
  • Tell you they are taking contraception (The Pill) when they are deliberately not 
  • Deliberately hurt you during sex, for example, non-fatal strangulation

If your partner, or former partner, has sex with you when you don’t want to, this is rape. It is important to report it and get the necessary help and support. 

Get support

NHS help after rape and sexual assault

Services

One-stop information and advice:

  • Consent and different forms of assault
  • Medical concerns after sexual assault
  • What to expect at a SARC (NHS sexual assault referral centre)
  • Sources of support and counselling
  • Choices around collecting physical evidence and reporting the assault
  • The legal process, if you decide to contact the police

Contacts and links

The BridgeTrust (NHS sexual assault referral centre)

Services

  • Medical care, emotional and psychological support, and practical help
  • Services for adults or children in B&NES who have been raped or sexually assaulted, or their friends and family

Contacts and links

  • Website
  • Call 0117 342 6999 (24hr helpline, staffed by crisis workers)
  • Email TheBridge@UHBW.nhs.uk (8am to 6pm, weekdays, except bank holidays)
  • Visit The Bridge, 2nd Floor, Central Health Clinic, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0JD

Riverside Clinic

Services

  • Nearest walk-in health centre 

Contacts and links

SARSAS

Services

Specialist support for any adult (18+) in B&NES who has experienced any form of sexual violence, at any point in their lives

Contacts and links

Kinergy

Services

  • Local specialist counselling agency offering trauma-informed counselling or group therapy for survivors of sexual abuse and violence

Contacts and links

SAFE BANES

Services

  • B&NES sexual health website for young people
  • Contact details for local sexual health and relationship services throughout B&NES

Contacts and links

Rape Crisis

Services

  • National feminist charity working to end sexual violence and abuse
  • Counselling and information for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse at any time

Contacts and links

Related forms of abuse

Sexual assault and rape may happen in combination with other forms of abuse. Find out more by visiting our separate pages on: