Sexual Misconduct and Harassment
This page is for students wishing to report an incident of sexual misconduct. When you are ready and feel comfortable, we want to listen to you and support you.
Report a sexual misconduct or harassment incident
(Please read the Guidance on the Sexual Misconduct & Harassment Reporting/Disclosure before completing a disclosure form)
The University condemns all forms of sexual misconduct and harassment and is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment that is conducive to the academic, social and personal development of the student community here at Hope.
The University wants to encourage a culture of respect, and create a Hope community that does not tolerate, and feels comfortable, challenging and reporting all forms of sexual misconduct and harassment. The following pages are aimed at helping you to make an informed choice about what steps you can take if you, or someone you know, have experienced sexual misconduct and/or harassment.
What is sexual misconduct?
Sexual Misconduct covers a broad range of inappropriate, unwanted behaviours which create (or has the potential to create) an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive situation or environment for the person experiencing the behaviour.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that a person finds offensive or which makes them feel distressed, intimidated or humiliated. A person does not have to have objected to a certain kind of behaviour in the past for it to be unwanted and constitute harassment.
Sexual harassment can include:
- someone making sexually degrading comments or gestures.
- your body being stared or leered at.
- being subjected to sexual jokes or propositions.
- e-mails or text messages of a sexual nature and/or with sexual content.
- physical behaviour, including unwelcome sexual advances and touching.
- displaying sexually explicit pictures/footage in the proximity of a person(s), with the intention of them seeing it.
The common thread with any form of sexual misconduct is the lack of informed consent. Consent is always required and cannot be assumed based on the parties’ relationship status or sexual history together.
Anyone can experience sexual harassment. If you have experienced any kind of sexual misconduct or harassment, Remember, no matter where you were, what you were doing, what clothes you were wearing, what you were saying, whether you were drunk or under the influence of drugs, it was not your fault and you are not to blame.
How to report sexual misconduct
If you’ve experienced any form of sexual misconduct or harassment, there are a number of options available to you.
- You may wish to report the incident to the University if it took place on campus or involved another student or staff member. You can do this using the reporting form link at the top of this page.
- You also have the option of reporting the incident to the police. You can do this by calling 101 as a non-emergency. If it is an emergency, you should always call 999.
- You can report an incident even if it wasn’t directed at you. For example, you could be a friend, neighbour, family member, support worker or simply a passer-by.
If you wish to to access professional help and support whilst you are deciding whether to report to the Police or not, an alternative is to access a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). SARCs offer forensic medical exams, support, counselling, and sexual health screenings. You can have an exam without police involvement and the evidence can be stored. They can also help you consider your reporting options.
Further support
SAFE Place Merseyside - SARC
Telephone: 0151 295 3550 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
Visit the website
Address: 6 David Lewis St, Liverpool, L1 4AP
RASA Merseyside - Sexual Violence Services
Telephone: 0151 558 1801
Email: rasa@rasamerseyside.org
Visit the website
South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services (SLDAS)
Telephone: 0151 494 2222/0800 083 7114
Email: services@sldas.co.uk
Visit the website
Rape Crisis - National Sexual Violence and Abuse Charity
Telephone: 0808 500 2222 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
Visit the website
Chat: Online web chat support