Broadchurch Police Station was chosen to launch a new campaign which sends the message that, when it comes to sexual abuse, #ITSNOTOK.

To mark National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, and Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre has teamed up with other agencies in the area to raise awareness of the support that is available for those who have experienced, or who are experiencing, sexual abuse and/or violence.

Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre is a voluntary organisation run for men, women and young people aged over 16 who have been raped or sexually abused.

The independent charity is the only rape crisis service serving all of Dorset and worked closely with the producers of hit ITV show Broadchurch on its most recent storyline which followed an investigation into a serious sexual assault.

The charity helped ensure a realistic account of an investigation into a serious sexual assault, and representation of the support provided to victims, was portrayed.

Actress Jodie Whittaker, who played grieving mother Beth Latimer, recently dedicated a National Television Award to survivors of sexual assault and mentioned Dorset Rape Crisis in her acceptance speech.

For Helen Stevens, the charity’s service manager, there was only one place to launch the campaign; outside the fictional Broadchurch Police Station in West Bay, where she was joined by members of Women’s Action Network Dorset (WAND), Friends of the Crisis and Information Centre, You First, Bridport Town Council and Bridport mayor Anne Rickard.

The group’s message was clear; #ITSNOTOK.

Helen said: “We’re leading a number of different initiatives around Dorset to promote this week and raise awareness. Due to our connection with Broadchurch we launched outside the Broadchurch Police Station in West Bay.

“We have seen an increase in the number of referrals in the past year and that’s partly due to our involvement in Broadchurch; people know that we exist.

“We’ve developed partnerships with other agencies and want to raise as much awareness as possible as it can still be really difficult for people to get that support.

“This is why we want to let as many people as possible know that we are here and about the services that we offer.”