Sexual Assault, Harassment and Hate Crime
If you have been affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment or rape, it is not your fault. This can happen to anybody regardless of gender identity or sexuality. You don’t have to tell anybody anything if you don’t want to. It is your choice.
Our Service
Sexual assault, harassment and hate crime are issues of concern to Universities nationally. If you are victim to sexual assault, harassment or hate crime, the Guild Advice service can support you. We offer free, confidential and independent advice to all University of Liverpool students. Our advice is non-judgmental and aims to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about the options available. We can support you by signposting you to specific services that can help you and assist in reporting to the University or the Police. We can also support you in attending any meetings and can review statements you may write. There is no timescale in reporting incidents of sexual misconduct and you are able to report historical crimes at University.
To book an appointment with an Advisor you can visit the Guild reception in the Reilly Building, call reception on 0151 794 6868 or email guildadvice@liv.ac.uk.
Reporting to the University
The University of Liverpool takes these issues very seriously and has a number of proactive interventions in place to tackle sexual assault, harassment and hate crime affecting students.
Sexual misconduct is clearly defined as a breach of the University's Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline, and the University has the power to investigate allegations and issue sanctions if a student is found to have committed a sexual misconduct offence.
If you want to report an incident of sexual misconduct, harassment or hate crime, you can submit a formal complaint to the University. You may be asked to attend and give statements at Boards of Discipline. A Guild advisor can support you with this. For more information see our guidance on Complaints.
If you chose to report to the police, a Guild advisor can also support you and help you fill in a crime report.
SafePlace and RASA
SAFE Place Merseyside is the Sexual Assault Referral Centre for the Merseyside area.
SAFE Place offer a service for people of all genders who have been sexually assaulted both recently and at any time in the past. As well as emergency treatment, emergency contraception and advice on many other services, they can offer referrals to counsellors and can help you if you would like to contact the Police.
If you need to contact SAFE Place, just call 0151 295 3550.
RASA is a charity who supports anyone who has been sexually abused or raped, or who has been affected by sexual violence at any time in their lives. They offer emotional support, counselling, advocacy and other services to help survivors in ways that work for them. RASA offer support regardless of age or gender, and work with both adults, and children.
You can contact RASA by call or email.
Supporting a friend
You may have difficulty in knowing what to say or do to help friend. Don’t worry about not having all the answers, being there and non – judgemental listening can be supportive for a friend. If you have a friend disclose to you about an instance of sexual violence, we can support you.
Give your friend time and space to think, settle down and make decisions. Encourage your friend to contact the Guild advice centre and University support services. Believe your friend and do not ask detailed questions, it is not your role to investigate but to support.
It is important to take care of yourself as well. Supporting a friend can be difficult and it is OK to take time and space for yourself We are able to meet with you to ensure you have the full support available to you.
If you’ve been accused
If you have been accused of committing sexual misconduct, you may be taken through a University investigation. An adviser is able to support you with this, see our Non Academic misconduct guidance.
Further support
Samaritans - A charity who can provide emotional support for workers who are struggling to cope and need somebody to listen to them. They can be found at www.samaritans.org.
Police - Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is in progress. Call 101 to contact the police if the crime is not an emergency. For the England, Wales and Northern Ireland police visit www.police.uk or Scotland at www.scotland.police.uk.
