Any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature which has the effect of violating your dignity, causes distress, intimidates, and creates a hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment (this includes the digital environment, online)
Cyber flashing is when someone sends an unwanted sexual image online. This is a type of indecent exposure. It can happen through text, email, social media, dating apps, or messaging apps like WhatsApp. It can also happen through file-sharing tools like AirDrop or Nearby Share, which let people send images to nearby devices, including to strangers.
Sexual Violence includes acts such as rape, sexual assault, and any other coerced or non-consensual sexual activities, recent or non-recent.
You can contact your local sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for more urgent support and care in the days following rape or sexual assault. SARCs are usually provided by the NHS and can offer confidential medical and practical support, including preserving forensic evidence. Find the details for your nearest SARC in Wales or England here: SARCs | Rape Crisis England & Wales. For further advice after a sexual assault visit our support pages.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and supported at work or study.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate sexual behaviour (which may include, but is not limited to, violence, grooming, misconduct and harassment). These activities are against the law, we will take reports seriously, and support is available for anyone experiencing them.
However, this policy is not just about what happens once an incident occurs. It’s also about the important role we can all play in stopping it from happening in the first place.
You must familiarise yourself with our Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment policy as all staff and students are expected to comply with it.
You should also read the accompanying procedure and guidance.
Together these documents outline our expectations, your responsibilities, and our procedures for dealing with complaints. They also contain definitions of the terms discussed.