Addressing harassment and sexual misconduct

Harassment is defined in the Equality Act 2010 as: ‘Unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the individual.’

Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct which is of a sexual nature, whilst sexual misconduct is a broad term used to encompass a range of behaviours including, not exclusively, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact (sexual assault), and non-consensual sexual penetration (rape).

Our Dignity at Work Policy sets out the behavioural expectations for all who are directly engaged for work. It provides definitions and examples, clarifies roles and responsibilities and sets out how to report inappropriate behaviour. 

There is also a Dignity & Respect Policy for students, which sets out our expectations for students.

As a values-led organisation we are committed to taking steps that will make a significant and credible difference to protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. These include:

• Raising awareness of our policies and reporting mechanisms through communication, additional web content, student-led campaigns in partnership with our Students’ Union, and the provision of guidance and advice.
• Promptly responding to any cases that are reported, so we can provide support to those who are reporting incidents and ensure appropriate actions are taken against those who are found to have transgressed
• Ensure regular mandatory training is provided online and onsite for staff and students, with ongoing evaluation to ensure we’re constantly striving to improve what is delivered.

Reports can be made in a variety of ways to best suit the needs of the reporting person. For students, this includes reports to the Wellbeing Support team, to a member of staff you feel comfortable speaking with, to the SU or through our RH Be Heard named and anonymous reporting platform. For staff, RH Dignity Voice is an online tool for colleagues to report, in confidence, allegations and instances of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, gender-based violence, hate, micro-aggressions, and safeguarding concerns. Colleagues may submit a report through RH Dignity Voice (available to colleagues through our staff intranet) with contact details or anonymously for incidents that they may have personally experienced or witnessed. Students, staff or any other persons can also make reports to campus security.

The University is also committed to working with Surrey Police and specialist agencies to respond to reports made to external teams.  

If there is an immediate risk to safety we would strongly advise support is sought from the Police, Security or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. The nearest centres to our campuses are:

Egham campus: Solace SARC Surrey

London campus: The Havens, London

A range of personal support is available to students from University services and external specialist teams and we will help students identify the most appropriate and helpful support for their individual needs. 

What support is available for me as a student?

Support is available from the University for both reporting and responding students to issues related to sexual misconduct and the University will provide a named contact to you for consistency of support.

Support can be accessed through our Wellbeing Support team.

Allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct are investigated following our policies and procedures, and are guided wherever possible by the needs of the reporting party.

The Student Sexual Misconduct Policy defines sexual misconduct and sets out our approach for preventative and reactive actions.

For students, cases will be investigated under the Student Conduct Regulations and Dignity and Respect Policy with options for informal interventions, and formal processes either for minor or major misconduct. Investigations will be carried out fairly, impartially and reflecting principles of natural justice.

We aim to provide discretion and confidentiality to ensure those impacted by these issues feel safe and supported in making a disclosure and engaging in support.

We will take all reasonable steps to protect the privacy of those who make a disclosure, and of those who are investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct.

There may be circumstances – for example a safeguarding concern, individuals at risk, or risk to others – where we any be required to share information more widely internally or to external agencies. 

Wherever possible we will discuss this with individuals to gain their consent but reserve the right to act without consent where there is an immediate serious risk or safeguarding concern.

The University is required to uphold duties and responsibilities under legislation for data protection, but where it is reasonable and feasible we will provide reporting and responding students with an outcome of investigations and an explanation of the decisions made.

The information shared will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with input from the Legal and Governance team to ensure we are balancing the desire to be open and transparent and our legal obligations.

We are committed to providing information and guidance to students to understand what consent is, to understand what is constituted as harassment and sexual misconduct is, to develop confidence in bystander interventions, how to report concern and what support is available to students and how to access this.

All students must complete a mandatory online course called Consent Matters, a course developed by Epigeum. The course covers:

• Thinking about Consent: Defining and understanding consent, so you know when you have it as well as when it can and can’t be given, whatever your gender or sexuality.
• Communication Skills and Relationships: Recognising and asserting your own boundaries, and how to talk about boundaries with others.
• Looking out for Others: How to take simple, safe and effective steps to challenge harassment when you see it.

During student induction, in welcome week, we run sessions for students to expand on their learning, ask questions, raise awareness of our reporting mechanisms and how to access support.

Each academic year the University Student Life and Students’ Union teams run campaigns to raise awareness and to provide opportunities for students to ask questions, share feedback and raise concerns.

The University is White Ribbon accredited and is actively committed to working towards ending men’s violence against women and encouraging students and staff to make the White Ribbon promise.

The University is committed to providing staff with advice and guidance on responding to disclosures of sexual misconduct and ensuring reports are shared promptly support can be offered.

We inform our staff about the content of this webpage and the requirements of the Office for Students in relation to protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct so that they have an up to date understanding. This includes quick guides for staff and promotion of reporting mechanisms as well as specific guidance for Personal Tutors and those in student facing roles. Face to face training is also delivered for areas most likely to receive allegations.

We also encourage staff to learn more about, and become involved with campaigns and events through the year to ensure a whole university responsibility for preventing sexual misconduct and raising awareness within our communities.

As part of the University’s commitment under the Workers Protection Act 2023, all staff are required to complete the e-learning course Understanding and confronting sexual harassment at work. This covers:

• The causes and dynamics of sexual harassment
• How it impacts at an individual and organisational level
• Effective intervention strategies for bystanders who witness sexual harassment
• Guidance and support if experiencing sexual harassment.

Line managers and those receiving reports are required to complete a more detailed course, Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – A Complete Guide, which also covers the legal context, how to handle complaints of sexual harassment, and conduct fair investigations.

We will begin a widescale roll out of these new training courses in during autumn 2025 as part of our communications with staff about protecting student from harassment and sexual misconduct. Those conducting investigations will be provided with support and guidance from our Legal and Governance Team.

All staff are also required to complete mandatory training in Bullying and Harassment and Allyship.

This policy sets clear boundaries for relationships between Royal Holloway students and staff to protect everyone's wellbeing and maintain academic integrity.

It outlines when relationships are prohibited, disclosure requirements, how to report and the support available to both staff and students.