A guide for students and staff on harassment and sexual misconduct

Keeping you safe

The purpose of this document is to provide a comprehensive overview of the policies, support services, and procedures in place to address harassment and sexual misconduct within our university community. It serves as a resource to ensure that all students are aware of their rights, the available support, and the proactive measures taken to foster a safe and inclusive environment.

Liverpool John Moores University recognises that incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct occur within and beyond the University.  The University also acknowledges that harassment and sexual misconduct can be experienced by any individual regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, age, disability, faith, ethnicity, nationality or economic status.  The University is committed to promoting a culture in which incidents of sexual misconduct or harassment will not be tolerated and will be addressed to ensure the preservation of a safe work and study environment, and a culture of zero tolerance.

What is harassment and sexual misconduct?

The University defines sexual misconduct as any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes but is not limited to

1. sexual harassment
2. sexual assault
3. rape

This includes misconduct through any medium, including, for example, in online environments. Sexual misconduct is an umbrella term used to represent a range of related behaviours, examples of which are provided here but are not exhaustive.

• Engaging or attempting to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual acts without consent.
• Kissing or any other inappropriate physical touching without consent.
• Recording a sexual act without consent and/or sharing intimate images or recordings of another person without their consent.
• Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates the dignity of another person or has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
• Arranging or participating in events aimed at degrading or humiliating those who have experienced sexual misconduct, for example inappropriately themed social events or initiations.
• Distributing indecent images or accessing pornographic materials via university computing systems or any other means.

Harassment is a term used in law to describe when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel distressed, alarmed or threatened.

Examples of harassment include:

• behaviour that has the effect of violating a person’s dignity, or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment
• breaches of the university’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy (Word, 66KB). For example, abusive or offensive behaviour or comments relating to an individual’s sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, pregnancy/maternity, marriage/civil partnership, gender reassignment, disability or age
• threatening or offensive behaviour including on social media
• repeatedly following another person or frequently contacting another person without good reason
• relationship abuse: any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those who are, or have been, intimate partners; this may include psychological, physical, sexual, financial and/or emotional abuse

Why it is important to us that we tell you about harassment and sexual misconduct?

Harassment and sexual misconduct have no place in our university community. We are committed to fostering an environment that values respect, dignity, and equality for all students. This document aims to raise awareness, prevent incidents, and empower students by providing them with the knowledge and resources needed to address such issues effectively.

How to report an incident and how to make a formal complaint

There are a number of ways that a student or member of staff can let the University know about an incident or something that is concerning you.

Report and Support

Report and Support is an online tool that students, staff and visitors to the University can use to inform the University of an incident of harassment or sexual misconduct. When someone leaves an anonymous report in the tool, this information is used as statistical data to understand what is happening and to inform proactive prevention work. When a student leaves a report with their name and contact details, this is sent to relevant staff within the university including the Specialist Support Advisors and Officers in Student Advice and Wellbeing, who will contact you to provide you with an offer of support. Specialist Support Advisors can let students know what their options are, including making a complaint to the Police or making a formal student complaint (see below).

You can Report and get support

Reporting to the Police

Any student who wishes to make a complaint to the Police can be supported in doing so. The University Police Officer is also available to advise students of their rights and how complaints to the police are investigated.

Only in exceptional circumstances will the university report an alleged crime to the police contrary to the wishes of a victim, for example if the disclosure of the information is to protect the reporting students (or others) from harm or to prevent a further crime taking place. 

Usually, when a matter is being dealt with by the police or the courts, the University suspends its investigation of the matter until policing and criminal justice proceedings have ended.

If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, students should call the emergency services on 999. Staff and students can also contact the University security team on (0151) 231 2222 (or 2222 from an internal phone).

Reporting to lecturers and other university staff

Some students choose to report what has happened to them to their tutors, especially their personal tutor. This can be a good way of ensuring that you have support during times when you need it most. There may also be other staff within LJMU that students are comfortable to approach with a disclosure, and all staff are aware of how to direct students to appropriate support.

However, reporting matters to lecturers is not the same as making a formal student complaint (see below) and won’t necessarily lead to a university investigation of the incident or issue.

Student complaints

Leaving a report on Report and Support is different from making a formal student complaint. When a student submits a formal complaint, this is then considered and if appropriate investigated by the University. Investigations adhere to the principles of natural justice and are designed to establish the facts of a case. If it is determined that a student has committed a breach of the Student Code of Behaviour, this can lead to disciplinary procedures and sanctions up to and including permanent expulsion from the university. Investigations are managed by a specially trained team of accredited investigators who apply trauma-informed principles to their work. 

We provide a special form for our students to make a complaint of sexual misconduct or harassment.

Make a complaint

Support services we provide for you

Our university offers a range of support services for students who have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct. For those experiencing harassment or sexual misconduct the following services maybe particularly relevant.

Specialist advisors

Trained professionals available to support students who find themselves affected by harassment or sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. The team offer a non-judgmental space that empowers students to access relevant support and advice, including which external specialist services might be relevant. This team can also liaise with the Police should that be necessary.

Mental health and wellbeing team

Available to support your wellbeing and mental health at any point in your university career. 

Counselling

Trained professionals are available to provide confidential counselling and support to students affected by such incidents. They offer a safe and empathetic space to discuss experiences, emotions, and coping strategies.

University Police Officer

Working closely with the university, this officer is seconded from Merseyside Police and can assist with any concerns students may have when a crime has been committed.

• Contact details for the University Police Officer

Services and provision from John Moores Students’ Union (JMSU)

• Advice Service: We offer free, confidential and impartial advice and support to all LJMU students regarding university issues. Whilst we focus primarily on Academic matters, we can help advise and signpost students, ensuring students know the options open to them and that LJMU's decisions are fair.
• Representation (Student Voice): We represent LJMU students and create positive change for a better university experience. Your input and feedback is crucial to what we do, and so we work alongside Student Officers, Course Reps, Faculty Reps, and Student Communities to address important student issues and amplify your voice. We also run campaigns to make sure your concerns are heard and acted upon. 
• Getting Involved: Building connections and finding a supportive social circle is crucial during your university journey. Our student groups, events and volunteering opportunities will help you to make new relationships and networks, expand your perspectives, encourage you to have a positive impact within the community. We also have dedicated societies including Feminist, and LGBTQ+ which provide inclusive safe spaces where like-minded people can meet and support each other.
• Buddy Scheme: JMSU Buddy Scheme alleviates pressures associated with making new friends by carefully matching you with a compatible companion based on your preferences. The scheme is easy to join and provides a unique opportunity to forge friendships, connect with new individuals and take part in exclusive events.

Students who are accused of sexual misconduct are also able to receive appropriate support and guidance throughout the process from Student Advice and Wellbeing Services.

• This may include referrals for counselling and medical services, personal safety planning, academic adjustments, self-care resources and navigating resources.
• Assistance in making appropriate responses to allegations is provided by the Advice Centre within JMSU.

Measures we have put in place to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct

Our university takes proactive measures to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct.

Awareness and training programmes

Mandatory training sessions and workshops are conducted for all students and staff to educate them about the importance of respectful conduct, consent, and bystander intervention. These programmes create a culture of awareness and empower individuals to act against harassment or sexual misconduct. All new students will be asked to complete the training during induction in their first semester at LJMU. All staff will be asked to complete the training and it will then be repeated every three years.

Policy development and enforcement

Robust policies and procedures are in place to address harassment and sexual misconduct. These policies outline clear expectations, consequences, and investigation procedures, ensuring a fair and impartial process for all parties involved. Specific policies include the Safeguarding policy, Sexual Misconduct Policy (Word, 63KB) and the Personal Intimate Relationships Policy.

Freedom of speech

The University welcomes, promotes and upholds freedom of speech and freedom of expression and encourages the right to question and test receive wisdom. However, speech that amounts to unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination does not constitute free speech within the law and is not allowed. University work around harassment and sexual misconduct will always take into account the requirement for free speech. View the university policy on Freedom of Speech and Academic freedom.

In particular the Personal Intimate Relationships Policy (Word, 108KB) means that no student should be placed in a position where there is the potential for an imbalance of power or where a staff member could abuse their position of trust with a student. Therefore, to  protect the welfare of students, and in the best interests of staff, the University prohibits intimate personal relationships between a relevant staff member and students. Any breach of this would result in the university taking appropriate steps in line with its usual disciplinary process, including the possibility of dismissing the relevant staff member.

The university also strongly discourages any non-relevant member of staff entering an intimate personal relationship with a student, although it is not prohibited. We therefore also require all staff to declare if any intimate personal relationship exists between non-relevant staff members and any student. This is to ensure that we assess that there is no power imbalance. The policy can be read here.

There are also a range of other policies designed to support the University’s work in preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct, including the Student Complaints Procedure, the Student Discipline policy, Student Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Procedures, staff disciplinary policy, Dignity at Work policy and Staff grievance policy.

Students and staff can access all of these policies via the Policy Centre.

Campus safety measures

Collaborating with our campus security team, we maintain a safe environment through security patrols, well-lit areas, emergency call numbers, and surveillance systems. Regular safety assessments are conducted to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. The university has also invested in SafeZone – a personal safety app that allows for swift reporting of incidents as well as allowing for mass messaging in situations that might need evacuation or invacuation. Students and staff can download the app from their usual app store and further information will be available from September 2025.

Information sharing

How LJMU ensures that persons directly affected by any decisions made in respect of incidents of harassment or sexual misconduct are informed about the decisions and the reasons for them.

Confidentiality will be maintained, where possible, throughout the disclosure, reporting and investigative processes in recognition of the sensitive nature of harassment and sexual misconduct matters.  As such, information will usually only be shared with relevant individuals/entities (who may be internal or external to the university such as the Counselling team, witnesses, external experts or the Police) on a need-to-know basis. In each student complaint and disciplinary investigation, the Head of Student Governance will ensure that relevant parties are identified in each case and that a data impact risk assessment is completed to establish the lawful basis for any data sharing and whether or not it is clearly appropriate to share such data.

The University’s Student Complaints Procedure and Student Code of Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures operate according to the principles of natural justice, therefore when a student makes a formal complaint of harassment and sexual misconduct regarding another student or a member of staff, the allegation is disclosed to the other party.

Non-disclosure agreements

LJMU believes that it is inappropriate to use Non-Disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of this type and in 2023, we signed the Can’t Buy My Silence Universities Pledge. This means that we will not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in relation to complaints of sexual harassment, abuse, misconduct or other forms of harassment. Since September 2024, the Office for Students has prohibited universities from using NDAs in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct.

Staff support and guidance

This comprehensive document is intended primarily for student information. If staff require support and guidance this can be obtained by their line manager, local safeguarding officer, HR Business Partner or domestic abuse champion. Or there are other areas of support on the staff wellbeing pages. All members of the LJMU community, including Board of Governors and visitors to the University should be aware of the requirements as detailed in this document.