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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/19/merseyside-police-and-council-apologise-for-victim-blaming-tweet
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Liverpool council and police apologise for 'victim-blaming' tweet | Liverpool council and police apologise for 'victim-blaming' tweet |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Merseyside police and Liverpool city council have apologised after posts on their social media accounts were criticised for blaming victims for sexual assault. | Merseyside police and Liverpool city council have apologised after posts on their social media accounts were criticised for blaming victims for sexual assault. |
| The force and city authorities deleted the posts following a backlash and issued a statement on Twitter stating: “The only person ever responsible for making the reprehensible decision to rape is the perpetrator.” | The force and city authorities deleted the posts following a backlash and issued a statement on Twitter stating: “The only person ever responsible for making the reprehensible decision to rape is the perpetrator.” |
| The force and local authority had posted a link to a video titled Know When To Step In, which was part of a wider campaign by Citysafe, Liverpool’s community safety partnership, to encourage friends to look after each other on nights out. | The force and local authority had posted a link to a video titled Know When To Step In, which was part of a wider campaign by Citysafe, Liverpool’s community safety partnership, to encourage friends to look after each other on nights out. |
| The tweets, which included the hashtag #NoMeansNo, read: “She told her mates she’d had enough. The bar staff knew he shouldn’t have served her that last shot. Her mates should have gone outside with her. Shouldn’t have left her on her own in that state. Know when to step in.” | The tweets, which included the hashtag #NoMeansNo, read: “She told her mates she’d had enough. The bar staff knew he shouldn’t have served her that last shot. Her mates should have gone outside with her. Shouldn’t have left her on her own in that state. Know when to step in.” |
| We have removed a post and video entitled 'Know when to step in' and Citysafe, Liverpool's Community Safety partnership, have issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/YwvYixweZj | We have removed a post and video entitled 'Know when to step in' and Citysafe, Liverpool's Community Safety partnership, have issued the following statement: pic.twitter.com/YwvYixweZj |
| The rape and sexual abuse charity RASA Merseyside issued a statement saying its board of trustees no longer supported the campaign “or the message it is giving to survivors and victims of rape and their friends and acquaintances”. | The rape and sexual abuse charity RASA Merseyside issued a statement saying its board of trustees no longer supported the campaign “or the message it is giving to survivors and victims of rape and their friends and acquaintances”. |
| Responding to the council’s tweet using the hashtag #takeitdown, Dr Anna Cunningham wrote: “This doesn’t highlight how friends can help each other stay safe, though. This says it’s the fault of everyone but the rapist. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Did your comms team not seek advice from professionals in the field?” | Responding to the council’s tweet using the hashtag #takeitdown, Dr Anna Cunningham wrote: “This doesn’t highlight how friends can help each other stay safe, though. This says it’s the fault of everyone but the rapist. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Did your comms team not seek advice from professionals in the field?” |
| Helen Mannion wrote: “Absolutely infuriating. Responsibility placed on everyone but the perpetrators by the police. No wonder victims don’t want to come forward. Your campaign should focus on teaching about consent. | Helen Mannion wrote: “Absolutely infuriating. Responsibility placed on everyone but the perpetrators by the police. No wonder victims don’t want to come forward. Your campaign should focus on teaching about consent. |
| “Talk to the rapists’ mates about what they should be doing.” | “Talk to the rapists’ mates about what they should be doing.” |
| Citysafe apologised for the social media posts in a statement: “It was not our intention to blame anyone who has been subject to sexual assault, rape or any other crime. | Citysafe apologised for the social media posts in a statement: “It was not our intention to blame anyone who has been subject to sexual assault, rape or any other crime. |
| 80% of teenage girls suffer serious mental illness after sexual assault | 80% of teenage girls suffer serious mental illness after sexual assault |
| “The aim of this campaign was to build on the No Means No campaign and the scenario chosen is based on incidents that have been reported by victims and victim charities where predatory men have targeted women they perceive to be vulnerable in some way.” | “The aim of this campaign was to build on the No Means No campaign and the scenario chosen is based on incidents that have been reported by victims and victim charities where predatory men have targeted women they perceive to be vulnerable in some way.” |
| Citysafe said that people from sexual violence support services, the council, police and local charities were consulted during the making of the video, and that its storyline was tested on focus groups. | Citysafe said that people from sexual violence support services, the council, police and local charities were consulted during the making of the video, and that its storyline was tested on focus groups. |
| “No one consulted felt that the campaign blamed victims, but when viewed in isolation the tweet has been perceived in that way and we are sorry for any distress caused,” they said. | “No one consulted felt that the campaign blamed victims, but when viewed in isolation the tweet has been perceived in that way and we are sorry for any distress caused,” they said. |
| Rape and sexual assault | Rape and sexual assault |
| Liverpool | Liverpool |
| Police Federation | Police Federation |
| news | news |
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