FOI_25-218 Reports of forced marriage, honour-based violence and FGM
Date of response: 25 July 2025
We have now considered your request of 19 July 2025 for the following information:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting information regarding how your university handles and records disclosures of harmful practices from staff or students, specifically related to:
- Forced marriage
- Honour-based abuse or violence
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Please provide answers to the following questions for both staff as victims/survivors and student victims/survivors:
Question 1. Disclosure Recording
a. Does your university formally record disclosures or reports related to forced marriage, honour-based abuse, or FGM?
Our response:
Yes, for students reporting to Student and Academic Services.
For Human Resource Services, we do not formally record disclosures or reports made by staff which are related to forced marriages, honour-based violence or FGM unless they result in a formal process under the University’s procedures.
b. Are these types of disclosures recorded separately if not recorded using a centralised reporting tool?
Our response:
No.
c. Are specific categories or flags used in your reporting systems to record these harmful practices if they are not specifically named as forced marriage, honour based abuse and female genital mutilation?
Our response:
No.
Question 2. Volume of Disclosures
For each academic year from 2019–20 to 2023–24, please provide the number of disclosures or reports received relating to:
- Forced marriage
- Honour-based abuse or violence
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Our response:
| 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forced Marriage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Honour-based violence | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Female genital mutilation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Question 3. Response Process
a. Does your university use a risk assessment tool when these disclosures are made? If so, please name the tool or describe the process.
Our response:
For students reporting such incidents, a Risk Assessment is conducted by trained advisors in Student Journey and Support Services.
On this occasion it is not possible to provide all of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for any risk assessments used by our Human Resource Service in relation to staff disclosing forced marriage, FGM or honour-based violence.
b. Is there a formal internal process or procedure in place for managing such disclosures?
Our response:
Yes, for student disclosures, no for staff disclosures.
Question 4. Training
a. Do staff receive any training specifically related to forced marriage, honour-based abuse, or FGM?
Our response:
Yes, for student disclosures, no for staff disclosures.
b. If so, is the training mandatory? What is the frequency and delivery method (e.g. online module, in-person workshop)?
Our response:
No.
c. Are any staff trained specifically to support other staff or students in relation to these issues?
Our response:
No.
Question 5. Awareness-Raising
a. Does the university engage in awareness-raising activities around these harmful practices (e.g. events, campaigns, training)?
Our response:
No.
b. Are these standalone initiatives or tied to national awareness campaigns (e.g. UK FGM Awareness Day, National Safeguarding Week)?
Our response:
No.
Question 6. Support for Students and Staff
a. What type of support is offered to students and staff who disclose experiences related to forced marriage, honour-based abuse, or FGM (e.g. counselling, safeguarding referrals, academic support, discretionary funding, work-related support, on-campus accommodation)?
Our response:
Staff within Student Journey and Support Services, adopt a trauma informed approach and work with the student to support them in ways that are appropriate to their needs. This may be by making internal referrals to Talking Therapy, Safeguarding, Academic Registry, Accommodation Office or for support from the Student Finance team or may involve external referrals to specialist services.
For Human Resources/staff disclosures, any support would be on a case-by-case basis, but as we have not had any such disclosures it is not possible to be specific.
b. If yes, are students and staff aware such of such provisions, including those staff members who are supporting the student/staff member making the disclosure?
Our response:
Yes, for student disclosures, no for staff disclosures.
c. Are there dedicated support staff or services for this purpose?
Our response:
Yes, for student disclosures, no for staff disclosures.
Question 7. Policies and Procedures
If available, please provide copies of any relevant internal policies, procedures, staff guidance, or training materials related to the handling of forced marriage, honour-based abuse, or FGM disclosures.
Our response:
On this occasion it is not possible to provide any of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for any policies or procedures, staff guidance or training materials related to the handling of reports of forced marriage, honour-based abuse or FGM.
The University do not have any such documents as of the date of your request.