Any form of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment is never okay.
What is sexual misconduct?
The term ‘sexual harassment’ captures only some of the possible abuses of power that may occur. Sexual misconduct more specifically raises issues of unequal relationships, consent, and the prevention of equal access to education, opportunities, and career progression.
What is sexual misconduct?
The term ‘sexual harassment’ captures only some of the possible abuses of power that may occur. Sexual misconduct more specifically raises issues of unequal relationships, consent, and the prevention of equal access to education, opportunities, and career progression.
The following are considered as examples of sexual misconduct (this is not an exhaustive list):
• sexual intercourse or engaging in a sexual act without consent; this is rape or sexual assault
• attempting to engage in sexual intercourse or other sexual act without consent
• sexual violence, rape or sexual assault
• stalking
• sharing or distributing private sexual materials of another person without consent through any medium (for example: images, video, voice recordings, text message, letters, emails, etc)
• intimidation, or promising resources or benefits in return for sexual favours
• kissing without consent
• touching inappropriately without consent
• inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person
• making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature
• sexual intercourse or engaging in a sexual act without consent; this is rape or sexual assault
• attempting to engage in sexual intercourse or other sexual act without consent
• sexual violence, rape or sexual assault
• stalking
• sharing or distributing private sexual materials of another person without consent through any medium (for example: images, video, voice recordings, text message, letters, emails, etc)
• intimidation, or promising resources or benefits in return for sexual favours
• kissing without consent
• touching inappropriately without consent
• inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person
• making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is a criminal offence and contrary to the Student Code of Behaviour and NTU's Dignity and Respect Policy. A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual, and the person does not consent.
It involves all unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature and ranges from pinching, embracing, and kissing, to rape and sexual assault which involves penetration without consent. Consent is agreeing by choice and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice. A person is free to make a choice if nothing bad would happen to them if they said no. Capacity is about whether someone is physically and/or mentally able to make a choice and to understand the consequences of that choice.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, embarrassing, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the recipient. It is a misuse of personal or institutional power and often based on a person’s gender although it is rarely about sexual desire.
Whether the harasser intended to be offensive or not is irrelevant. The limit of acceptable behaviour is up to the recipient to decide. A single incident or persistent behaviour can amount to harassment.
Sexual harassment can range from behaviour that stems from obvious to anyone or subtler behaviour less obvious to either the person responsible for the behaviour or to the recipient. Often the impact is not felt or witnessed immediately. The impact may go beyond the recipient to people who see or hear what happens or who try to offer support.
Sexual harassment can include but is not limited to: catcalling, following, making unnecessary and unwanted physical contact, sexual jokes and comments, giving unwelcome personal gifts, wolf-whistling, leering, derogatory comments, unwelcome comments about a person’s body or clothing, unwelcome questions about a person’s sex life and/or sexuality, engaging in unwelcome sexual propositions, invitations and flirtation, making somebody feel uncomfortable through displaying or sharing sexual material. Sexual harassment does not necessarily occur face to face and can be in the form of emails, visual images (such as sexually explicit pictures on walls in a shared environment), social media, telephone, text messages and image based sexual abuse, such as revenge porn and upskirting.
If you have experienced sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. What happened was not your fault. What you do next is your choice.
Sexual Violence Support
NTU does not tolerate any forms of sexual violence. All students and colleagues deserve the opportunity to study, learn, work and live in an environment free of all forms of sexual abuse. If you, or someone you know, has experienced any form of sexual violence, now or in the past, we have dedicated trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers who will offer support at your own pace.
Such forms of unacceptable behaviour are contrary to the Equality Act 2010 as well as the Student Code of Behaviour and the University's Dignity and Respect Policy.
Help and Support
Think
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
- If an incident has just happened, try and find somewhere you feel safe
- If on campus, you can use the designated safe spaces or contact NTU security on Tel: 0115 848 2222.
- If you are not safe in your household and at risk of sexual or domestic violence, there is support throughout Nottingham for anyone who has experienced sexual violence or domestic violence (see support below)
Report
- Students and colleagues can report an incident using the University’s Report and Support system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support from an adviser. If you choose to talk to an adviser, they will be able to talk through the options and support available to you in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to the University about a student or colleague, there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow (see NTU Student Code of Behaviour and Staff Grievance Policy).
- If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively, you can make an anonymous disclosure, though we will not usually be able to investigate any named individuals unless you provide your contact details.
Support for Students
We have dedicated sexual violence officers who will support you at your own pace, with incidents that have happened now or in the past. We aim to contact you within 24 hours of submitting a report.
Our support for you consists of:
We have dedicated sexual violence officers who will support you at your own pace, with incidents that have happened now or in the past. We aim to contact you within 24 hours of submitting a report.
Our support for you consists of:
- Offering you a single point of contact within the University to support you on what you may need
- Sharing information about specialist support within the university and in the community
- Working with your course team in cases where there are impacts on your studies or where you may need adjustments or need time out
- Advising about the Notification of Extenuating Circumstances process
- Offering a point of contact during the period of any police investigation
Our support is confidential, respectful, and for you. We will respect your wishes and needs.
To access sexual violence support, please complete the 'Report with contact details' form. Further information can be found on the Student Hub.
Nottingham Trent Students' Union - Survivors' Support Network
Nottingham Trent Students' Union - Survivors' Support Network
A community of self-identifying women at NTU who have experienced sexual violence, as well as other forms of violence against them. The group provides a safe space to unify, empower and support.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Find out more on the support available for mental health and wellbeing.
It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the University's Student Health and Wellbeing Service offers confidential help and is open to both students and colleagues.
Find out more on the support available for mental health and wellbeing.
It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the University's Student Health and Wellbeing Service offers confidential help and is open to both students and colleagues.
Support for Colleagues
Colleagues who complete a report with contact details will be contacted by an HR adviser within 2 working days. The adviser can provide support and guidance and refer to relevant services.
Colleagues can contact the services listed below for support. Please note that HR hours are 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year. We are not able to respond to enquiries during bank holidays and University closure periods, but colleagues can contact NTU Security at any time on Tel: 0115 848 2222, if they have any safety concerns on campus.
Remember, you can also speak to your line manager, or their manager if the concern is about the behaviour of your line manager.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Find free, confidential advice and counselling services for all NTU colleagues
Peer Support Scheme for colleagues
Peer Support Contacts offer impartial listening and signposting peer-to-peer support to colleagues who wish to understand how to raise and/or report an issue or concern that they have or are experiencing whilst at NTU.
Human Resources (HR)
Find contact information for your HR business partners and HR departments.
Trade Unions
Find Trade Union representative contact details.
External support services
Domestic Abuse - Clear your internet history if you are worried about someone knowing you have visited support websites.
Internet browsers normally save certain information as you use the Internet. This includes words you’ve searched, and a history of the sites you’ve visited. If you’re worried that someone at home will look at what you’ve done online and see the support sites that you have visited, the safest option is to use a computer at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work. You can also reduce the chance that someone will discover your internet activities by clearing your internet history.
Domestic Abuse - Clear your internet history if you are worried about someone knowing you have visited support websites.
Internet browsers normally save certain information as you use the Internet. This includes words you’ve searched, and a history of the sites you’ve visited. If you’re worried that someone at home will look at what you’ve done online and see the support sites that you have visited, the safest option is to use a computer at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work. You can also reduce the chance that someone will discover your internet activities by clearing your internet history.
Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services (NSVSS)
For ages 18+, who have experienced rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse, either recently or in the past.
Telephone: 0115 9410 440
Or complete an online referral form
The Topaz Centre, Nottinghamshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre
For ages 18+, who have experienced rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse, either recently or in the past.
Telephone: 0115 9410 440
Or complete an online referral form
The Topaz Centre, Nottinghamshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre
A specialist 24/7 service for people 18+ who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
Visit the Topaz Centre website
Email the Topaz Centre at notts.sarc@nhs.net
Telephone: 0800 085 9993
The Sexual Assault Referral Centre for anyone who is 17 years or younger.
Visit the EMCYPSAS website or contact them via phone 0800 183 0023.
Visit the EMCYPSAS website or contact them via phone 0800 183 0023.
For more information about support after sexual assault, visit the NTSU website.
NTU is proud to be a member of The Nottingham Consent Coalition, working within the community to prevent and respond to sexual violence.
For more information, visit The Consent Coalition website.
Equation is a Nottingham-based specialist charity that works with the whole community to reduce the impact of domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender inequality.
For support regarding domestic violence outside of Nottingham, get help and advice about domestic abuse at gov.uk.
Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
If you are unsure of local services in your area, please email StudentSupportAdvisers@ntu.ac.uk and we can advise.