CUMBRIA Police have launched an awareness campaign targeting potential violent and sexual offenders.

‘Do the Right Thing’ focuses on three areas – sexual assault/rape, alcohol fuelled violence and domestic violence.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “Normally at this time of year we issue safety messages to people about how to keep themselves safe – for example, don’t walk home alone or don’t leave your drink unattended.

“However, the truth is many people who are victims of sexual or violent assaults know their attacker, in which case this type of advice will be unlikely to help in their situation.

“It also sets up the expectation that these people are somehow responsible for what happens if they become a victim of crime.

“This is absolutely not the case. No matter where a victim is, how they are acting, how intoxicated they may be, it is never the victim’s fault.

“This campaign aims to put the blame where the blame belongs – with the offender.”

In Cumbria between August 2012 and July 2014 there were 746 rapes or ‘other sexual offences’.

In 88 per cent of the rapes, and 75 per cent of the other sexual offences, the offender was known to the victim.