Sexual consent has been likened to making someone a cup of tea in a new police campaign to drive down the number of rape crimes.

Between September 2014 and August 2015, the figure of reported sexual offences in Watford nearly tripled to 172, however, the number of cases where there was someone was charged was only 25.

In the same year, 54 of the reported cases included a victim under the age of 16.

Herts Police has launched a new campaign for the festive season to make sure revellers are clear that sex without consent is rape.

To bring home the message home a ‘simple as tea’ analogy is featured in an amusing but hard-hitting video.

The video runs for almost three minutes and features stick figures making, accepting or rejecting cups of tea in various situations. 

A voiceover compares these to situations such as when a person who has said “yes” to sex turns out to be too inebriated to reasonably consent.

Det Chief Insp Fiona Gaskell said: “We want to make sure that people have a clear understanding that preventing rape is not about potential victims having to change their behaviour, such as the way they dress or how much alcohol they drink, but about everyone understanding what constitutes rape.

“In law, a person consents if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

“The law is also clear that when sex is initially consented to, but later withdrawn, the person responsible will have committed rape.

“A person who is very drunk or unconscious cannot consent to sex so having sex with someone in this state could be rape.

“This is a clear message that we need everyone to understand.”

As part of the campaign, which also involves council, healthcare and charity partners, police will be in town centres in the run up to Christmas when they will be handing out branded lip balms and speaking to revellers, door staff and taxi drivers.

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, said: “This multi-agency campaign aims to prevent serious sexual assaults during the party season, and beyond.

"I am confident that increased understanding and awareness can only reduce the number of incidents happening.

"Agencies working together in this way makes for an even more effective campaign to address an issue that is at the top of my agenda – keeping people safe.”