More than one in 10 people raped by someone they were not previously involved with were attacked on a first or second date, figures show.
Police said more than 160 people in Scotland reported being raped in the very early stages of dating in 2018-19.
This meant that almost 11 per cent of rapes committed by someone other than a partner or former partner happened on a first or second date after the pair met online.
Cops have started a #GetConsent campaign, warning sex without consent is rape.
Officers said the 160 figure is a “shocking statistic”, especially when the number of incidents is likely to be “significantly under-reported”.
Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald said: “No one should go on a date expecting or feeling entitled to sex, just as no one goes on a date expecting to be raped.
“Nor should anyone feel bullied, coerced or shamed into having sex because their date expects it or believes they’re entitled to it because they paid for drinks or dinner.”
The campaign is aimed primarily at men aged 18-35, which police said is the peak age for offending.
Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland , said: “Sex without consent is rape and that consent must always be free and willing.”
