With discussion surrounding rape culture and the prevalence of victim-shaming continuing to rage around the world, one might wonder who green-lit a safety pamphlet entitled R U ASKING 4 IT?

Issued to students during a police talk at Bristol College last week, the pamphlet outlined measures to ensure personal safety, but failed to see how their literature might be considered victim-shaming of the highest order.

Commenting on the leaflet, Kizzie Tims, 16, who attended the talk along with 50 other students said: "The leaflet was about personal safety – robberies and muggings – but was not appropriate when taking about rape."

Taking to social media to outline the glaring issue with the literature, one Twitter user wrote: "We should be teaching people not to rape, not teaching us how to avoid it!!"

"Victim blaming arose rather quickly from the police, telling girls that they shouldn’t drink on nights out and suggesting that it was more the victim’s job to prevent the attack from happening," explained one 17-year-old male student who also attended the talk.

Responding to the controversy, Avon and Somerset Police acknowledged the literature was ill-advised, saying: "Students were right to challenge the incorrect message. We are sorry and we will be re-delivering the workshop."

"Any suggestion that a victim of rape or sexual assault can ever, in any way, be to blame is totally unacceptable," they added in a series of posts on Twitter.

Too little, too late?