Sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct is any kind of unwanted sexual activity, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual violence. It does not always include physical contact.
If you feel at immediate risk, or need urgent help, call 999. If it’s not an emergency, contact the police: report online or call 101.
On this page:
Support for sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct can happen to anyone.
Urgent help for sexual misconduct
If you have experienced sexual misconduct within the last seven days, we strongly encourage you to seek support without delay as there is a timeframe within which evidence can be gathered.
Your local sexual assault referral centre offers 24/7 support. For information about urgent support, call us on +44 (0)117 456 9860.
Support services for sexual misconduct
Our sexual violence support service supports students who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, regardless of when or where it happened.
The Bridge in Bristol (NHS sexual assault referral centre)
It does not matter when it happened, where it happened or who did it, the Bridge will help you get the support you want.
Find a local sexual assault referral centre
Find a rape and sexual assault referral centre near you.
Survivor pathway for services in the south-west
This online resource is for anyone wanting to know more about sexual violence support services in the South West.
Rape Crisis England and Wales
Provides free support and services for survivors of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and all forms of sexual violence.
Revenge porn helpline
A UK service supporting adults (aged 18 and over) experiencing intimate image abuse, also known as revenge porn.
The Green House
Free counselling for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse at any point in their lives.
Next Link
Domestic abuse and women's mental health support services. They offer independent support for victims of rape and sexual abuse.
Halo project
For black and ethnic minority females experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, sexual violence, forced marriages, honour killing and female genital mutilation.
LGBT+
Galop supports LGBT+ people who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, conversion therapies, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.
Specifically for males
Male Survivor Partnership helps men who have experienced domestic abuse and/ or unwanted sexual activity (sexual violence).
Self-testing DNA kits
We are aware that ‘self-testing DNA kits for survivors of rape’ are being promoted to students by a company called Enough.
We do not endorse these kits and have no partnership with this company. We encourage you to read Rape Crisis England and Wales' statement on its concerns about self-testing. NHS England, Bristol City Council and multiple specialist sexual violence support services have also shared their concerns.
Report sexual misconduct
To report sexual misconduct, you can request contact from an adviser.
You can also report anonymously.
If you are unsure about reporting, you can discuss your options with a member of our team.
Types of sexual misconduct
Sexual misconduct can be:
- inappropriate and unwanted behaviours of a sexual nature (including attempted behaviours)
- all forms of sexual violence, including:
- sex without consent
- sexual abuse (including online and image-based abuse)
- non-consensual sexual touching
- sexual harassment
- stalking
- abusive or degrading remarks of a sexual nature.
If sexual misconduct affects your studies
If an incident of sexual misconduct has affected your studies, you may want to submit exceptional circumstances.
We offer specific support to help you with this, to limit the amount of information you need to share about your experiences.
If you would like to discuss this support:
email uob-sexualviolencesupportservice@bristol.ac.uk.
Our commitment to students who have experienced sexual misconduct
We do not tolerate sexual misconduct.
Our Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy sets out our expectations.
Our joint commitment to students on sexual violence and harassment outlines how we will offer support for affected students.