More rapes reported

9 March 2010, 05:50 | Updated: 9 March 2010, 08:41

Oxfordshire's police say they're going to bring back a rape-awareness campaign next Christmas after more attacks were reported during December.

The Thames Valley force were told about 44 rapes and sexual assaults, compared to 37 the year before.

Posters were displayed across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.  Police also used Bluetooth technology to send animated messages to the mobiles of people heading out to bars, pubs and clubs.  You can watch one of those messages below.

The Christmas party season often sees a rise in this kind of attack, as people 'let their hair down' a little more than at other times of the year.  Police don't however think the rise in reported attacks necessarily means more took place.

Detective Sargeant Sally Kestin has been telling Heart: "We believe the reports have increased because we're asking people to report it.  Because we have a team of officers who can help [victims] we believe that by having the campaign, it encourages people to come forward."

As well as running another awareness campaign in the run up to Christmas 2010, Thames Valley Police also plan to carry out a similar awareness campaign when students return to university in the autumn.

One of the Bluetooth messages sent out during December