Harassment & Sexual Misconduct

There’s a range of specialist support services, locally and nationally. Services we highlight at the University are the NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and  The Bridge. Both have advisors that are specially trained to help you to make the right decision. 

We understand that it may be difficult to talk about what has happened but telling someone can really help. Our dedicated Student Support team is here to listen, to give you the support you need and to help you make an informed decision about what to do next. You’re not alone. 

The Student Support team engage with and can support all Universities parties involved in any incident.  

• On campus, visit the Student Helpdesk in the Library  
• Email us: studenthelpdesk@falmouth.ac.uk
• Call us: 01326 370 460   
• Complete our confidential form 

Alongside our student support services, Falmouth students 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 07418 360780 to start a conversation.  
• Request a callback or use live chat: share your details and receive support at a time that suits you. 

• If you’re in immediate danger, call 999. 
• If you’re safe and have chosen to contact the police, contact the non-emergency line on 111. 

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

If you’re not ready to talk about what has happened but you want someone to be aware, you can share your experience via our Support and Report tool. You can remain anonymous while making the University aware.  

Also read: What does the University do with the information I share?

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 the University to take further action, you can make a formal complaint. The Student Support team can support you through the process. The Students’ Union can also provide impartial advice. 

It’s 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 at University 
• Provide advice on seeking medical or legal support 
• Support you while you contact the police or make a formal report to the University if you choose to 

The University 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. 

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 the University can support you in doing this. 

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

For more details about what the University does with the information you share, please see the next tab below.

The University treats your information with complete confidentiality. Information will only be shared with staff if it’s essential to allow us to respond to your report and make decisions in line with our policies and procedures. The University may also need to access sensitive information (for example, a file held by Student Services) during this process.  

If you make an anonymous report, please be assured that the University 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’s necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of a student and/or the wider University 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 provided; however, we will make every effort to protect students in this situation.    

Any report of an incident will be student-led. You choose who to speak with and when – you will not be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Where the University 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, the University 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 University community. 

All data provided to the University is treated in line with our data privacy regulations and complies with data protection legislation. 

The University 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 the University 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 University 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 the University 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 and Procedure. You can find this policies on our Regulations, Policies & Procedures page.

At Falmouth University, we believe that every student deserves protection from harassment and sexual misconduct. We’re 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 and with no restrictions on lawful freedom of speech or academic freedom. 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. These are our official policies and are regularly reviewed by the University.

• Student Sexual Misconduct Policy  
• Student Bullying and Harassment Policy 
• Complaints Policy and Complaints Procedure
• Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure
• Suspension Policy 
• Safeguarding Policy 
• Staff Misconduct Policy

Relationships  

Close personal relationships between staff and enrolled students are not permitted, as stated in the staff "Relationships at Work 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 1 August 2025, all new students are invited to mandatory training about sexual misconduct and harassment. Webinars or face-to-face training will be offered in Weeks 0–2 in each study block for all new starters (regardless of study mode). They are reminded of what is acceptable, what to look out for and how to respond to incidents. This is reinforced through student communications during their time at Falmouth. 

Staff training is provided to ensure they 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. Those involved in investigations or decision-making are given enhanced training, including on trauma-informed responses and relevant legal frameworks. Training is regularly updated. 

Falmouth University maintains and promotes this webpage with staff and students in line with the Office for Students Condition E6 and its requirement for the provision of a comprehensive single source of information relating to sexual misconduct and harassment.  

This statement was first prepared in July 2025. It was last reviewed in July 2025.

Staff and student engagement  

Falmouth University co-chairs a Gender Safety and Sexual Misconduct Working Group with the University of Exeter, where both universities work together with Student Support services and the Students' Union to share work being done and coordinate joint initiatives. Falmouth University also works closely with external agencies such as the police and The Bridge, who attend regular wellbeing fairs and hold drop-ins on campus.