Police are raising awareness of the devastating impact of sexual violence - as it emerges more than 80 sex attacks are reported in Kent every week.

Last year, the force received a staggering 1,584 rape and 2,667 sexual assault allegations - an average of 11 a day.

This week, officers are highlighting issues around understanding consent and the importance of reporting assaults as part of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss from the force's public protection unit said: "No consent means no sex.

"We take all allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously and people are treated in confidence.

"We encourage people to report offences at the earliest opportunity. Our specially trained officers will work with the victim and put them in touch with others, including Family Matters, so that together we can help them work through this kind of traumatic experience.

"Sexual assault or violence ruins lives. It has devastating and often long-lasting consequences not only for the victims, but also their families and loved ones.

"Those convicted of offences can face lengthy jail terms along with being placed on the national sex offenders register for life."

It comes after the force ran a social media campaign to offer support and advice about sexual offences.

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said: "Protecting vulnerable people from harm is a guiding principle of my new Safer in Kent Plan and I’m backing Kent Police’s ongoing campaign to highlight issues of sexual consent.

"Everyone - old and young, men and women and the LGBT community - needs to understand 'it's not OK' and that that 'no' means no.

"Where abuse does occur, it is important that victims have access to the support they need so I’ve set aside £200,000 to commission local sexual assault support services to provide Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) and Child Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ChISVAs) from April.

"There is another £500,000 available to provide more specialist support services to victims of crime, including adult and child victims of sexual abuse and violence. Charities and community groups can begin bidding for some of that money this week."

Last month 80-year-old Mark Humphreys, who had raped and abused children over a period spanning more than 30 years, was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

And in December, 22-year-old Jamie Murphy from Surrey was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman at a flat in Margate.

In October, Josh Courtney, 24, formerly of Magpie Hall Road in Chatham, was jailed for 11 years for raping and assaulting a woman in a "degrading and humiliating" attack.

DCI Moss added: "The length of sentences in these examples show that, no matter the length of time since the offence was committed, we will do our very best to ensure that cases are put before the courts, who support us with significant sentences against sexual offenders.".

The awareness week also aims to encourage victims to report assaults.

Kent Police has a special interview suite, which contains comfortable rooms where people who have reported a rape can talk with trained officers, specialist facilities for medical examinations, as well as somewhere to wash and shower.

A specially trained officer will explain what could happen next and go through any necessary procedures, such as making a statement about what has happened.

Anyone reporting a sexual assault will be asked if they agree to a medical examination to ensure any forensic evidence can be gathered.