A new Merseyside campaign is taking direct aim at the myths that silence victims of rape and sexual assault.
Police leaders, support services and survivor advocates gathered in Liverpool to launch Myth vs Fact, the latest phase of the region’s Taking Action initiative.
The event in Liverpool One brought together Merseyside Police, Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, and specialist organisations RASA Merseyside and RASASC Cheshire and Merseyside.
The campaign has been shaped by the input of victim survivors whose experiences helped identify the most damaging misconceptions surrounding sexual violence.
Organisers say the aim is to challenge attitudes that create barriers to reporting and to push back against the false beliefs that often shift blame from perpetrators to victims.
Several core myths are being targeted, including the idea that what someone wears or drinks provokes an attack, that a lack of physical resistance means an incident was not rape, or that false allegations are common.
The campaign also highlights that most assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.
Campaign artwork on a digital message that will appear across the city, using a visual “ripped apart” effect to reveal facts behind the myths.
Giant placards, scratch cards and leaflets are being handed out, while twelve support services joined a community stall at the launch. A mobile police station was present for anyone wishing to seek advice or report an offence.
Chief Superintendent Helen Bennett, Head of Prevention, said: “Many survivors feel unable to come forward because of harmful stereotypes that continue to circulate.”
She stressed that sexual violence is never the victim’s fault and called on men to play an active role in challenging attitudes that contribute to a culture of harm.
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said the campaign is about confronting the lies that excuse sexual violence.
She described the myths as barriers that prevent survivors from pursuing justice, and she emphasised that the campaign reflects the voices and truths of those who have been affected.
Support services also welcomed the initiative. Lorraine Wood, Executive Director of RASA Merseyside, said harmful myths create real obstacles for survivors seeking safety and recovery.
Myth vs Fact marks the third phase of the Taking Action campaign, which launched in 2024.
It also coincides with the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and the third anniversary of the regional delivery plan on tackling VAWG, which sets out 57 actions for improving safety and justice.
Anyone affected by rape or sexual assault is encouraged to seek support.
Specialist services across Merseyside provide confidential help without the need for a police report, and those wishing to make an anonymous report can do so through Safe Place or an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor.
Reports to Merseyside Police can be made by calling 101, through Crimestoppers, or online. In an emergency, the advice remains to call 999.
Featured image: Will Feaver
