Sexual Misconduct & Harassment

If you, or someone you know, has experienced harassment and/or sexual misconduct, we can advise you on how to get help and support.

Harassment and sexual misconduct can have a huge impact on those affected by it. If you, or someone you know, have experienced harassment and/or sexual misconduct, we can advise you on how to get help and support, while recognising that everyone copes differently with their own experience.

What to do in an emergency

Harassment & Sexual Misconduct

Depending on your circumstances there are routes for you to seek immediate help. If it is an immediate emergency and you require the police or ambulance services, call 999.

Are you on campus?
If you're on campus and you need emergency help, you should also alert the Student Support Team.

Bristol: 0117 325 9290
‍Manchester: 0161 552 6441
‍Plymouth: 01752 210801

What is harassment and
sexual misconduct?

Harassment is when someone’s unwanted conduct violates another’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment because of, or connected to, protected characteristics. This might be a repeated experience or a single experience that impacts more than one person, in person or online.

Sexual misconduct is when someone carries out unwanted sexual behaviour towards another person that makes them feel upset, scared, offended or humiliated. This can be a single or repeated experience of unwanted conduct, in person or online.

Full official definitions of harassment and sexual misconduct are available within the following documents:

dBs Institute Student Sexual Misconduct Policy
‍dBs Institute Student Bullying & Harassment Policy
‍dBs Institute Student Disciplinary Policy & Procedure

What should I do if I experience it?

You should do whatever feels right for you, based on your experience and your response.

If you experience harassment or sexual misconduct, here are some steps you can take:

1. Capture what happened: Write down details of the incident, including dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. Keep any evidence, such as emails, texts or social media messages.

2. Tell Someone: Share your experience with a trusted friend, family member, peer or professional support service. They can offer support and help you decide on the next steps.

3. Decide what is best for you: Seek advice, seek support and if you feel it is right for you, report the incident to the University and/or to the police.

4. Be informed: Familiarise yourself with your legal rights. For example, under the Equality Act 2010 you are protected from sexual harassment in the workplace, on public transport and in educational institutions.

If you have witnessed harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you can take the same steps and report it using the same methods below.

If you are a staff member who has been affected by any form of harassment or sexual misconduct, please contact People Services or follow use the Report + Support tool linked below.

‍Things to consider

Drug testing is best conducted by a medical professional within 24 hours
Emergency contraception medication should be started within 72 hours
HIV prevention medication should be started within 36 hours
The time to collect forensic evidence is often within 48 hours. Once collected, forensic evidence can be stored while you decide what to do next.

Who do I tell?

It is up to you. Depending on how you feel and your circumstance there are a number of routes for you to seek support.

Talk to someone in Student Support:

dBs students have access to a dedicated Student Support team. Whether you are studying on campus or online you can talk confidentially to a professional who can listen and help you to decide on your next steps. We encourage you to talk to us about incidents so we can ensure you receive the support you need.

On campus, visit reception and ask to speak to the Student Support Manager
Email us

dBs Online: studentsupport@manchester.dbsinstitute.ac.uk
dBs Manchester: studentsupport@manchester.dbsinstitute.ac.uk
dBs Bristol: studentsupport@bristol.dbsinstitute.ac.uk
dBs Plymouth: studentsupport@plymouth.dbsinstitute.ac.uk
‍
Call us

Bristol: 0117 325 9290
Manchester: 0161 552 6441
Plymouth: 01752 210801
‍

Use our Report & Support Tool

Our Report & Support Tool can be used to report your experience to a member of the dBs Student Support Team.

You can use the tool to report anonymously if you are not yet ready to talk about what has happened, or if you just want to let us know but are not seeking support or further action.

PLEASE NOTE - we cannot provide support or take further action if you choose to remain anonymous. If you DO want support and/or further action to be taken, you can supply your name when using the tool.

Contact the student helpline:

Alongside our student support services, Falmouth students also have 24/7 access to a confidential support helpline, via our partner, Spectrum Life. This means help is always just a call, message, or click away. Have your Student ID number handy if possible.

Call 0800 0318227 (UK):
WhatsApp: Send ‘Hi’ to 07418360780 to start a conversation.
Request a callback or use live chat: Share your details and get support at a time that suits you.

Record it anonymously:

If you are not ready to talk about what has happened, but you want someone to be aware – you can share your experience via
our reporting tool. You can remain anonymous while making the University aware.

‍Call the Police:

If you are in immediate danger – call 999
If you are safe and have chosen to contact the police, you can contact the non-emergency line on 111.

The Student Support team can advise and support you in making a report to the Police.

Make a formal complaint to dBs:

If you do not wish to make a report to the Police, or if you have already done so and the matter has been concluded, and you would like dBs to take further action, you can make a formal complaint. The Student Support, and Campus teams can support you through the process. The Students’ Union can also provide impartial advice.

Contact a specialist support service:

There are a range of specialist support services locally and nationally. Services we highlight at dBs are the NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Rape Crisis. Both have advisors that are specially trained to help you to make the right decision for you.

How can you help me?

It is up to you how much you share and what steps you decide to take.

Our support team can:

Listen
Help you understand your options
Help you to find the right ongoing support for your individual situation
Help you to make any required adjustments to your studies
Provide advice on seeking medical or legal support
Support you while you contact the Police or make a formal report to dBs if you choose to

dBs can put precautionary measures in place, which can include a requirement for a student not to contact another student, and/or a suspension, while a Police or internal investigation is in progress.

Do I have to report it to the Police?

Who you speak to and how you respond is your choice. Everyone reacts in their own way to their individual experience.

If you choose to contact the Police, the team at dBs can support you in doing this.

Who you speak to and how you respond is your choice. Everyone reacts in their own way to their individual experience.

If you choose to contact the Police, the team at dBs can support you in doing this.

External support services can also help with this decision, including the NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Rape Crisis, a charity that is independent from the police and other services.

What does dBs Institute do with the
information I share with them?

dBs treats disclosures with the utmost confidentiality, and you can be assured that any information will only be disclosed to staff as necessary in order to support the investigation and resolution of the case, and to make decisions in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. dBs may require access to sensitive information (for example, a file held by the Student Support Team).

If you make an anonymous report please be assured that dBs does not collect any data that can identify you, other than any information you provide yourself. Anonymous reports help us understand what kind of incidents are taking place in our community. Anonymous reports will not be acted on, except in very exceptional circumstances where it is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of a student and/or the wider dBs community. In such cases we understand that it may be possible to identify someone even if they have reported anonymously, from the context of information, however we will make every effort to protect students in this situation.

Any disclosure of an incident will be student-led. However, where dBs is made aware of a serious allegation against a student or a member of staff or it has grounds to suspect that sexual misconduct has taken place or is taking place, it may have a duty to investigate a case, regardless of whether a student wishes to make a formal complaint. In some cases, dBs may also have a duty to notify the Police.
As above, such circumstances would be to ensure the safety and welfare of a student and/or the wider dBs community.

All data provided to dBs during a disclosure is treated in line with our data privacy regulations and complies with data protection legislation.

What happens once an incident
is formally reported to dBs?

dBs has a formal procedure to follow once a complaint is made. Those involved in the complaint are informed individually of the investigation, outcome, reasoning and of any follow up actions.

When dBs is made aware of an incident of sexual misconduct or harassment, a risk assessment is completed to ensure students are fully supported, and to consider, where appropriate, precautionary measures which may need to be put in place while the matter is considered further, including for a police or dBs investigation. A requirement for reporting and reported students not to contact each other is a standard measure. Further measures may include suspending a reported student from all or part of dBs under our Suspension Policy. Precautionary measures may mirror any bail conditions issued as a result of any police processes.

Precautionary measures are neutral and temporary, taken in response to the serious concerns and balancing the interests of all parties involved, to allow space for further consideration and/or an investigation to take place.

Full details can be found in the Student Disciplinary Policy & Procedure

What does dBs Institute do to prevent harassment & sexual misconduct?

At dBs, we believe that every student deserves protection from harassment and sexual misconduct. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where such behaviour is unequivocally not tolerated. Regardless of their mode of study, all individuals are supported.

We expect all members of our community to treat each other with dignity and respect, in alignment with our core values. We strive to foster a culture where inappropriate behaviour is actively challenged and not accepted.

Our commitment is to ensure a culture of mutual consent and empowerment, where everyone feels confident to speak out against misconduct. We treat incidents of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness, sensitivity and fairness, ensuring comprehensive support for those affected.

Policy

We have a range of policies and procedures to ensure that harassment and sexual misconduct can be dealt with effectively and appropriately, and that all students can be supported. Our policies state our definition of harassment and sexual misconduct.

Links to associated policies:

Relationships

Close personal relationships between staff and enrolled students are not permitted, as stated in the Conflict of Interest & Personal Relationship Policy. Students can report harassment or sexual misconduct within staff-student relationships, regardless of the policy’s stance on such relationships, and will not be penalised for participating in such relationships. If you wish to report harassment or sexual misconduct within a staff-student relationship you will be protected from retaliation.

Guidance is shared with all students on recognising and building healthy relationships.

Support is available for students 24/7, year-round. Any student can contact the helpline for advice if they are unsure of the situation in which they find themselves.

Training

From 1st August 2025, all new students are invited to mandatory training about sexual misconduct & harassment. This training is hosted within an online platform, with links provided via email, and should be completed within the first two weeks of your course. You will receive regular reminders to complete this training. You will be reminded about what’s acceptable, what to look out for, and how to respond if you encounter incidents. These key messages will continue to be reinforced through communications throughout your time at dBs.

Staff training is provided to ensure staff are fully aware of the law and regulations as well as their role in responding to incidents of sexual misconduct or harassment. These messages are reinforced through each academic year via staff communications.

Information provision

dBs Institute maintains and promotes this webpage with staff and students in line with the Office for Students regulation and requirement for the provision of a comprehensive single source of information relating to sexual misconduct and harassment.