AS part of the week-long campaign tackling sexual abuse and violence, police in Cumbria are issuing a hard warning to potential sexual offenders that anything less than a yes means no.

Throughout the appeal the police will be focusing daily on topics surrounding sexual abuse.

The message that is being made clear today is that sexual consent relies on a person having freedom and the capacity to agree to an activity.

· Consent cannot be implied or assumed

· Consent is not absence of objection

· Consent to one thing does not mean consent for anything else

· Consent one day does not imply consent for another day

· Being married or in a relationship does not mean consent for another day

· Consent is not implied by clothing, behaviour or attitude

· Consent can be withdrawn at any time

· Someone drunk or on drugs may not have capacity to consent

· Someone who is unconscious cannot consent

· Consent given after being bullied, pestered, or threatened is not consent

Detective Superintendent Vicki Ellis, Head of Public Protection at Cumbria Constabulary, said: "There are no grey areas when it comes to sexual consent. No always means no and anything less than an informed yes does not imply consent.

"Regardless of what a person may wear, their attitude, behaviour or how much they may have drank, no one asks for it and we at Cumbria Police will certainly not tolerate any such incidents."

Part of this week's campaign will also be targeting potential offenders with the message that when it comes to consent it needs to be certain.

"With regards to consent, you need to be 100% sure," said Detective Superintendent Ellis, "The consequences of getting this wrong are devastating."