Harassment and Sexual Misconduct
We want all of our students to feel safe and supported during their time with us at the University Centre. You may experience prejudice, discrimination, harassment or violence as a student; you are not alone in dealing with this, help and support is available.
If you have had any experience of harassment or sexual misconduct, you do not have to deal with it alone. If you choose to disclose or report your experience of harassment, hate or sexual misconduct to us, we can provide you with the necessary support.
To report your experience to our Safeguarding team, click here. The information you provide will be dealt with in a sensitive and confidential way. You can also visit the safeguarding site for more information.
A campaign has launched at University Centre Leeds, urging staff and students to call out any form of harassment or sexual misconduct.
Call it Out aims to raise awareness of the help and support available if students face discrimination, prejudice, harassment, sexual misconduct or violence.
The Office for Students has released national statistics showing that full-time students are more likely to experience sexual assault than those in any other occupational group. Another study showed that out of 6,000 students, nearly 50 per cent of women said they had been touched inappropriately.
Given these troubling statistics, we recognise that in order to succeed, students need to feel safe while studying and be part of a community that recognises and celebrates diversity, equality and inclusion.
Taking Action
‘Call it Out’ encourages staff and students to take four key steps in order to prevent and tackle harassment and sexual misconduct:
Keep informed
Equip yourself with knowledge of acceptable behaviour.
Report it
Speak to a trusted member of staff if you experience harassment.
Be an ally
Stand against any forms of harassment and support those around you.
Access support
University Centre will support students who have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct.
External Support
There are a number of organisations and charities that may be able to support you:
Practical information about reporting incidents and the police force in your area.
Citizens Advice has more information about what you can do if you’ve experienced, or know someone who has experienced, a hate incident or crime. Hate incidents and hate crime happen because of prejudice or hostility based on a person's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Rape Crisis can help you find a Rape Crisis Centre, get online emotional support, or find information and self-help tools.
Stonewall can help you find LGBT support services and community groups that are local to you.
TellMama offers a secure service that allows people from across England to report any form of anti-Muslim abuse.
Disability Rights UK has a disabled students' helpline, providing advice to disabled students studying in England. They also campaign to improve disabled people's rights and to tackle hostility, bullying and hate crime.
The Community Security Trust is a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism.
Harassment FAQs
What should I do if I believe I am being harassed or victimised?
If you feel you are experiencing harassment or victimisation, do not feel that it is your fault or you have to put up with it. Our primary concern is that you should receive appropriate support, assistance and confidential advice.
Anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment or victimisation should not wait until the situation becomes intolerable. It is easier to stop any unwanted behaviour as soon as it occurs where incidents can be described in detail and witnesses are able to recall what they saw. Whilst there is no time limit, if you wish to raise or report an incident, either informally or formally, it is important that you do this as soon as possible after it has happened.
Whilst you have the opportunity to make a formal complaint at any stage, wherever possible, complaints of harassment and victimisation will be dealt with informally, as this is more likely to produce solutions that are speedy and successful.
What should I do if I observe an incident of harassment or victimisation?
If you witness acts of harassment or victimisation that you consider as inappropriate behaviour, it is helpful if you:
Where possible, and you feel comfortable to do so, intervene at the time of the interaction
Encourage the individual or group to seek appropriate support and guidance
Offer appropriate support yourself, for example, by volunteering to provide an accurate statement regarding what you have witnessed
Report the incident(s) to the appropriate tutor/member of staff
If you perceive the tutor or member of staff has contributed to the development of the incident, the matter should be raised with the attention of the next person higher in the organisational structure
Who should I contact?
If you feel harassed or victimised as a result of an incident(s) or if you have been accused of an act(s) of harassment or victimisation you may need help and support.
Support is available primarily through the Leeds City College Safeguarding team.
You may also wish to speak with:
Personal Tutor/Course Leader
Student Support Team
Any contact will be treated confidentially to discuss your concerns and options available to you.
What support is available?
Help and support is available through the Safeguarding team, HE Progression and Wellbeing Officer and Course Tutors.
The primary role of anyone supporting you is to listen, provide independent support and guidance regarding the range of options available to you. These people will treat any matters you raise in confidence within the remit of legal responsibilities and the needs of investigating the allegations.
I have been accused of harassing someone else, what should I do?
A fellow student or member of staff may have approached you to tell you that they are offended or upset by certain aspects of your behaviour, or you may have been approached by someone acting on behalf of the student or member of staff to inform you that an informal or formal complaint has been made against you. In having been accused of harassment or victimisation you should seek advice from a member of staff.
You should bear in mind:
The complainant does not have to raise the issue directly with you first before making their complaint and in some instances they may not feel able or willing to contact you in person
You may feel shocked, outraged or even upset to have received an accusation of inappropriate behaviour. However all students or staff have the right to ask a person to stop behaving in a manner which they feel is insulting, degrading or offensive to them
Differences of attitude, background and culture may lead to a misinterpretation of social signals. This may mean that what is perceived as harassment by one person may not be or seem to another.
Try to remain calm and listen carefully to the complaint and to the particular concerns expressed, remembering that it is the other persons reaction to the behaviour which is important, not the reaction you think he/she should have
Try to agree with the complainant, or with others who are discussing or raising the complaint with you, on ways to deal with the situation productively
Consider whether you have in fact behaved inappropriately and whether it would be advisable and appropriate to change your behaviour
What should I do if I have received a formal complaint about my behaviour?
University Centre Leeds has a duty to investigate all reported incidents of harassment and victimisation. We have an equal duty of care to both the accuser and the accused. Allegations will not be presumed proved until properly investigated using the appropriate procedures.
If you have received notification that a formal complaint has been made in relation to an incident(s) you should:
Read the formal notification informing you of the complaint made, noting any actions required on your part
Read these procedures and note your own obligations as a member of the College community
Avoid contact with the person who has made the allegation
Make notes relating to any incidents that have occurred involving the person making the allegations against you and be prepared to respond to questions relating to these incidents