If you submit a report and give your name, a trained member of staff from Student & Academic Services will contact you and discuss the options that are available to you.  These might include informal advice; further informal investigations by Student & Academic Services staff; counselling; pursuing an internal complaint; or reporting to an external authority such as the police.

If after talking to the contact in Student & Academic Service you decide you wish to speak to the police, we can support you to do this.

No, not necessarily - we can communicate with you by your preferred means - on the phone, by email or in person.

You can decide not to pursue the matters raised in a report at any time.

No - the report will be treated as confidential.  Possible actions will be discussed and agreed with you. The only exception will be if the report discloses information which suggests that the safety of an individual is at imminent risk - in these instances, the University may need to take immediate action.

No - we would not communicate with your sponsor or funding body.

If you submit an anonymous report, Student & Academic Services will have no way of knowing who submitted the report, so no one will make contact with you. 

Anonymous reports can sometimes help to provide an impression of issues arising in a particular part of the University (for example, in a specific academic unit or service), or across the University as a whole.  In these instances, we might make informal enquiries into the issues identified in the report.

We would not take any further action without discussing it with you first.  However, if a formal investigation is launched under student or staff conduct procedures, the individuals cited would be informed and would be given a chance to respond.

Yes - we would do our best to accommodate the personal preferences of anyone who submits a report.

Yes - we will ensure that all personal data is held securely.

Yes - we have good links with external bodies such as Rape Crisis Scotland and will seek advice from them as appropriate.

No - you can raise an issue with your academic adviser, with a Respect Adviser, or with the head of school where you are studying. If you prefer, you can raise issues directly with the Executive Director of Student & Academic Services, the Chief Operating Officer or the Principal.  If you are living in a University-run residence, you can raise issues with a Living Support Assistant.  The SRC also provides a confidential advisory service which can be accessed in person or online.

The main reason for submitting a report is to access advice and support.  From the University’s perspective, we want to know about issues and problems so that we can support individuals and address problems. 

More generally, we want to foster a culture where bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind are not tolerated and where everyone can go about their business in safety.