A NATIONAL rape awareness campaign was being launched today.

With the slogan 'We Can Stop It' police and charities are hoping to drive home the message that sex without consent is rape.

The month-long campaign aims to give confidence to anyone who thinks they are victim of a crime that early reporting of it increases the chances of offenders being traced.

Mhairi McGowan head of victim's advocacy service ASSIST, based in Glasgow, said: "We talk to people every day who have been raped by a partner or ex-partner, sometimes recently, sometimes a long time ago, so we are very pleased to support this campaign.

"We must work together as a society to ensure the message that rape is unacceptable is heard loud and clear by everyone."