It Does Matter
The It Does Matter campaign aims to educate and empower victims to report non-contact sexual offences.
This campaign has been developed with campaigner Lisa Squire from Buckinghamshire, who lost her daughter Libby in 2019 when she was at university to a sexual predator with an extensive history of escalating offending.
We’ve also worked with agency called TMC, who specialise in education and public health campaigns, to target 18-24 year olds. As part of the research we have run student focus groups and have a Project Advisory Team of academics, psychologists and representatives from TVP.
Non-contact sexual offences, such as exposure and voyeurism, have been historically overlooked in society as a form of violence against women and girls, and are sadly often not considered serious enough to report by victims.
What is a non-contact sexual offence?
A non-contact sexual offence includes a range of sexual offences involving no physical contact between the perpetrator and victim.
Examples include:
- Voyeurism
- Exposure
- Up-skirting
- Spiking
- Catcalling
- Stalking
Libby’s story
Lisa Squire’s story is poignant within the campaign and her tragic story sheds light on the seriousness of non-contact sexual offences.
On 1 February 2019 Libby was refused entry to a club because she was too drunk. Her friends sent her home alone in a taxi. Libby never got home. She was raped and murdered by a stranger who had an extensive history of non-contact sexual offences.
Through the launch of this campaign and the impact of Libby’s story, we hope that the conversation and seriousness of non-contact sexual offences is no longer tolerated as ‘not serious’ enough to report.
Speak up, stand together, stay safe.
Have you been a victim of a non-contact sexual offence?
If you think you have been a victim of a non-contact sexual offence, it does matter.
Being a victim of a non-contact sexual offence can evoke many different feelings and emotions. Many people will sadly feel as though it is not serious enough to report. It is really important to remember that non-contact sexual offences are never the fault of the victim, and often reporting these crimes allows the police to gather intelligence that will help to understand patterns of offending to assist with locating those that commit such crimes, and prevent an escalation in offending, including rape and sexual assault.
You can report a non-contact sexual offence at any time using the online form, by calling 101 or if it is happening and you need help, 999.
Support services are always available. Where to find support if you've been sexually assaulted.
Related links
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