Report bullying, abuse, harm, or hate

We believe that bullying, harassment and discrimination are never okay. Any allegations of this nature (which includes sexual violence, harassment, abuse or hate) are taken incredibly seriously.

By reporting an incident, you are helping us to maintain our friendly and safe college culture, where everyone can study, work and live free from any form of harassment.

How can I receive immediate support?

If an incident has just taken place and you are not in a safe place, feel at risk, or have any injuries that require urgent attention, call the emergency services on 999.

During your time at South Devon College or University Centre South Devon, you can report an incident to any member of staff and they will help you to access the services you need for support.

You can also contact our Safeguarding & Wellbeing Team directly on 01803 540558 or drop in to see the team in 3.131 on the main college campus.

If you have experienced sexual violence or misconduct, please see our ‘Safeguarding Policy’ for if you are aged 17 or under and our ‘Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy’ if you are 18 years or older.

If you have recently experienced a sexual assault, please consider contacting your GP, or your local Sexual Assault Referral Centre for advice on pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and other support – even if you do not want to go to the police or make a report to the College you can speak to these services confidentially.

Find a Sexual Assault Referral Centre

How can I report an incident?

Use our Speak Up reporting tool to report any of the following types of incidents that have taken place on or off campus (including placement providers):

• bullying or harassment
• hate incidents
• relationship or domestic abuse
• sexual assault
• sexual harassment
• violence or harm

Bullying or harassment

Often identified as intimidating, malicious, offensive or intimidating behaviour by one or more individuals. It may involve words, physical actions or general conduct. It can also include abuse or misuse of power.

Hate incidents

The term ‘hate incident’ can be used to describe a range of criminal behaviours where the alleged perpetrator is motivated by hostility or demonstrates hostility towards the alleged victim’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender status.

Relationship or domestic abuse

An incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence by a partner, ex-partner, family member or carer. It can include coercive control, psychological or emotional abuse, physical or sexual abuse, financial or economic abuse, harassment and stalking and online or digital abuse.

Sexual assault

A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual and the person does not consent. It involves all unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature and ranges from pinching, embracing, groping and kissing, to rape and serious sexual assault.

Sexual harassment

When someone behaves in a way that makes you feel distressed, intimidated or offended and the behaviour is of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include; sexual comments or jokes, physical behaviour, including unwelcome sexual advances and touching.

Violence or harm

Violence is an act of physical force that causes or is intended to cause harm (where someone’s physical or mental health is impaired).

Who can use the reporting tool?

This reporting tool is for:

• staff
• students
• volunteers and those on work experience
• College contractors
• anyone else outside of the College who interacts with our staff and students

The tool also provides you with an opportunity to report an incident on behalf of someone else. Sometimes it isn’t safe to assume that the person affected will choose to report the incident, so please use the reporting tool if you notice anything that you feel should be brought to our attention.

Will I be identifiable if I choose to report?

You can report incidents anonymously or choose to provide your contact details.

If you are reporting on behalf of someone else, you will not have the opportunity to leave contact details for the person affected by the incident.

What happens after I report an incident?

Reporting anonymously

If you choose to report anonymously, we will not be able to take further action with your case specifically, but this information will help us to identify any trends for our proactive work in preventing bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Submitting your name and contact details

If you do not choose to report anonymously, and provide contact details when requested, you will be contacted within three working days (not including weekends and public holidays) so that we can start to look into your case further.

How will you use the information I provide?

Reporting anonymously

If you make an anonymous report, the College will use the information you submit as follows:

• The information you provide in this report will remain confidential.
• It is not possible to identify any individuals from the data collected in this form.
• We use anonymous reports for monitoring and data purposes, which is used to monitor trends and to inform our proactive and preventative work in tackling harassment, bullying and discrimination.
• The College uses the information you provide to help us to better understand what kind of incidents are taking place within our community.

Submitting your name and contact details

If you make a report and include your personal details, the College will use them as follows:

• The information you provide in this report will remain confidential unless you are under 18 or a vulnerable adult and it is considered a Safeguarding concern 
• If you are submitting a named report, you will be contacted, provided with support and signposted to specific support services.
• We will not disclose any personal or identifiable information to others without your consent unless there is a legal requirement for us to do so or we believe that you, or someone else, is at serious or imminent risk of harm.

For further information on how the College handles your personal data please see the relevant privacy notice.

If you want to report bullying, abuse, harm or hate. Please contact the Safeguarding & Wellbeing Team so they can help you:

Report bullying, abuse, harm, or hate