Over 1,800 calls were made to the national 24-hour helpline for rape and sexual abuse during the Christmas period last year, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) has said.

According to the centre, 1,834 calls were made during December and January. Meanwhile 42 victims of rape and sexual assault were accompanied by DRCC volunteers to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital during the same period.

"The increase in the number of people who were victims over the holiday period last year of sexual violence, is a very worrying trend in our society," commented DRCC chief executive, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop.

She emphasised that many of these crimes go unreported so the true number of victims is much higher.

"They are often unreported because victims, more often than not, feel so ashamed particularly if they were under the influence of alcohol and will expect not to be believed. However the perpetrators may also have been under the influence of alcohol, but will not feel any shame even though they behaved recklessly and did not get consent to sexual intercourse," Ms O'Malley-Dunlop said.

Every year, the DRCC launches a ‘Staying Safe This Christmas' campaign. However this year's campaign, as well as focusing on potential victims, is also focusing on potential perpetrators, using the slogan ‘Don't Be That Guy':

-Don't be that guy who doesn't take responsibility
-Don't be that guy who doesn't make sure his partner is consenting
-Don't be that guy who sexually assaults a man or a woman too drunk to consent to sex
-Don't be that guy who uses alcohol as a tool to sexually assault someone
-Don't be that guy who believes it's not rape.

Menwhile, the DRCC offers the following tips to help people stay safe this Christmas:

-Try not to get separated from your group
-Keep your drink in your hand at all times and do not accept a drink from someone you have just met, even if he/she is a friend of a friend
-Ask someone you know and trust to mind your drink if you have to leave it for any reason
-Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or with a particular person, leave as soon as possible
-Nominate a designated minder for each group of six
- Share taxis with friends
-Make sure your mobile phone is charged at all times and keep the helpline free phone number stored in it - 1800 77 88 88.
-If you have to travel alone, make sure you phone ahead to where you are going and give your estimated time of arrival. Make sure your driver hears you phoning ahead.

The DRCC is also reminding people that the legal age of consent for having sex is 17.