Tackling harassment and sexual misconduct

Harassment is unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic that has the effect of violating someone’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. It is the impact of the behaviour, not the intention, that matters. 

Sexual misconduct is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. This can include: 

• sexual harassment, assault or unwanted physical contact

• sexual comments, messages or gestures

• coercion, grooming or pressure of a sexual nature

• offering opportunities or benefits in exchange for sexual favours

• sharing private or explicit images without consent 

These behaviours can happen on or off campus, online, on placement, or at College-related events. 

Report + Support is the College’s main way to report concerns relating to harassment and sexual misconduct. 

You can choose to: 

Report anonymously 

If you report anonymously, you do not need to share your name or contact details. This means we won’t be able to contact you to offer personalised support or discuss next steps. If you choose to report anonymously, you will be able to communicate with a member of the relevant team via anonymous messaging if you wish. You will have the option to consent to anonymous messaging and receive a code to log into your account. The appropriate team member will then be able to offer support and advise on next steps. They will get back to you in two working days. Find out more about anonymous messaging here. 

Anonymous reports are still important. They help us understand what is happening within the College and identify patterns or risks. In some cases, we may be able to take action if a named individual is identified and there is a serious risk to others. 

Provide your contact details 

If you choose to provide your details: 

• we will acknowledge your report within two working days

• a trained member of staff will review your report

• you will be supported to explore your options

You can decide whether you want: 

• support only, with no further action

• to explore informal options, where appropriate

• the College to investigate your concerns formally 

Making a report does not automatically start a formal investigation. 

If you prefer not to use Report + Support, you can also speak to: 

• the Student Disability & Wellbeing team. 

• a trusted member of staff such as your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) or module tutor. 

• your line manager or Human Resources (for staff). 

• relevant contacts while on placement or studying abroad. 

If a concern relates to harassment or sexual misconduct, it will be handled in line with the same principles, regardless of how it is raised. 

All reports are reviewed by trained senior staff to make sure they are handled appropriately and sensitively. 

Where further action is needed, the report will be passed to the right team, such as Student Services or Human Resources. Serious concerns, including safeguarding issues, are prioritised and escalated where necessary. 

We will keep you informed about next steps and likely timeframes wherever possible, while respecting confidentiality and data protection.

Support is available to everyone involved, whether a formal investigation takes place or not. 

For students 

• a named contact to guide and support you. 

• access to wellbeing and counselling services. 

• referrals to specialist external organisations if needed. 

• academic flexibility or adjustments where appropriate. 

For staff 

• access to wellbeing support and the Employee Assistance Programme. 

• the right to be accompanied or represented in line with staff policies. 

You can also choose to contact external services, including the police. Support is available if you would like help with this.

We understand that raising a concern can feel difficult. We treat all reports sensitively and take your privacy seriously. 

Information is only shared on a need-to-know basis. In some situations, such as where there is a serious risk of harm, we may need to share limited information to keep people safe. We will explain this wherever possible. 

Further information about how your data is handled can be found in our privacy notices and Report + Support FAQs. 

You can share confidential feedback about your experience of Report + Support. Your feedback helps us improve how we prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct.