FOI_26-203 Policies for reporting sexual misconduct and number of reports
Date of response: 25 September 2026
We have now considered your request of 31 August 2026 for the following information:
I am seeking aggregate, non-personally-identifiable information concerning allegations made by students that they were the victim of an alleged sexual offence committed by another student.
The period I am interested in is 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2026. For each academic year or calendar year for which the information is available, please provide the following:
Question 1. Reports/allegations
o The number of times a student reported to the University that they had allegedly been the victim of a sexual offence committed by another student.
o If the University distinguishes between different types of sexual offence (for example, sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct), please provide the figures by category where this information is held.
Our response:
2021-22 16 cases:
7 sexual misconduct, 4 harassment, 2 assault, 1 stealthing, 1 cyber bullying, 1 spreading rumours.
2022-23 26 cases:
8 bullying, 5 threatening behaviour, 6 sexual misconduct, 2 assault, 2 harassment, 2 transphobia, 1 stalking.
2023-24 10 cases:
6 sexual misconduct, 3 harassment, 1 assault.
2024-25 14 cases:
8 sexual misconduct, 4 assault, 2 harassment.
2025-26 26 cases:
9 assault, 6 sexual misconduct, 5 abusive conduct, 5 harassment, 1 bullying.
Question 2. Treatment as a student-conduct matter
o Of those reports, the number of cases in which the reporting student/complainant was recorded or treated as a witness to, or reporter of, a breach of the Student Code of Conduct or equivalent disciplinary regulations, rather than as a complainant/victim within a separate sexual misconduct or sexual violence process.
o If the University uses different terminology or a different process, please provide the equivalent category and explain briefly what it means.
Our response:
All reports are treated initially as a report of the incident taking place, as per our response question 1. Students who report an incident are not reporting a breach. Students who are accused of misconduct as noted in question 1, where the reporter wishes to proceed with a formal complaint/disciplinary investigation or where the accused perpetrator is a Medical student and subject to Fitness to Practice, only then will the student accused of such misconduct be investigated in line with our General Regulations and Disciplinary Procedures.
Question 3. Investigations
o The number of such allegations that were formally investigated.
Our response:
2021-22 - 15 cases.
2022-23 - 26 cases.
2023-24 - 10 cases.
2024-25 - 13 cases.
2025-26 - 14 cases.
o The number that were closed without a formal investigation, and, if recorded, the reason or outcome for closure.
Our response:
2021-22 - 1 case (allegation withdrawn by reporting student).
2022-23 - 0 cases.
2023-24 - 0 cases.
2024-25 - 1 case (student graduated before case concluded).
2025-26 - 12 cases (6 allegations withdrawn by reporting student, 5 no further action, 1 student graduated before case concluded).
Question 4. Findings/upholding of allegations
o The number of investigated allegations that were upheld, substantiated or otherwise resulted in a finding that the relevant student had breached the University's regulations.
Our response:
2021-22 - 7 cases.
2022-23 - 15 cases.
2023-24 - 7 cases.
2024-25 - 11 cases.
2025-26 - 5 cases.
o Please provide the number that resulted in:
a. no finding/breach not established;
Our response:
2021-22 - 8 cases.
2022-23 - 11 cases.
2023-24 - 3 cases.
2024-25 - 3 cases.
2025-26 - 3 cases.
b. an informal or non-disciplinary outcome;
Our response:
2021-22 - 0 cases.
2022-23 - 0 cases.
2023-24 - 0 cases.
2024-25 - 0 cases.
2025-26 - 0 cases.
c. disciplinary action without a hearing; and
Our response:
2021-22 - 8 cases.
2022-23 - 15 cases.
2023-24 - 9 cases.
2024-25 - 12 cases.
2025-26 - 7 cases.
d. a formal disciplinary hearing.
Our response:
2021-22 0 cases.
2022-23 0 cases.
2023-24 1 case.
2024-25 2 cases.
2025-26 1 case.
Question 5. Disciplinary hearings
For cases involving a formal disciplinary hearing, please provide:
o The number of hearings held.
Our response:
2021-22 - 0 hearings.
2022-23 - 0 hearings.
2023-24 - 1 hearing.
2024-25 - 2 hearings.
2025-26 - 1 hearing.
o Whether the complainant/reporting student was permitted to attend the hearing.
Our response:
Complainant/reporting students are invited to attend as a witness.
o Whether the complainant/reporting student was permitted to speak or give evidence at the hearing.
Our response:
Yes.
o Whether the accused student was permitted to attend the hearing.
Our response:
Yes.
o Whether the accused student was permitted to speak or give evidence at the hearing.
Our response:
Yes.
o Whether the complainant and accused were permitted to be present at the same time, if this is recorded.
Our response:
Yes, online in all these years. Students are kept separate on screen.
o Whether the complainant was entitled to an advocate, supporter or representative, and whether such a person could speak on their behalf, if this is recorded.
I am interested in the University's rules/policy as well as the number of cases to which each arrangement applied, if those figures are held.
Our response:
The complainant was entitled to bring a companion for moral support. Companions cannot speak or answer questions on their behalf. The accused are also entitled to have a companion to support them.
Question 6. Outcomes and sanctions
For cases in which an allegation was upheld or a breach was established, please provide the number receiving each type of sanction or outcome, for example:
o warning/reprimand;
o behavioural or educational intervention;
o disciplinary probation;
o restrictions on participation in University activities;
o suspension;
o expulsion/permanent exclusion;
o other sanction.
Please use the University's own categories where possible.
Our response:
2021-22 – 7 cases
1 2-year suspension.
3 formal warning.
2 formal warning, reflective exercise, complete consent matters training and engage with counselling.
1 formal warning, reflective exercise, write a letter of apology.
2022-23 – 15 cases
1 Ban from the student bar.
7 formal warning.
1 formal warning and NCO.
3 formal warning and reflective exercise.
2 formal warning and write a letter of apology.
1 formal warning, reflective exercise and write a letter of apology.
2023-24 – 7 cases
1 complete consent matters training.
2 formal warning.
3 formal warning and reflective exercise.
1 referral to a hearing.
2024-25 – 11 cases
2 formal warning.
2 formal warning and reflective exercise.
2 referral to a hearing.
2 words of advice.
1 formal warning and consent matters training.
1 formal warning, consent matters training and reflective exercise.
1 formal warning, write a letter of apology, reflective exercise, consent matters training
2025-26 – 8 cases.
3 words of advice.
2 formal warning.
1 formal warning and reflective exercise.
1 formal warning, tackling harassment exercise, reflective exercise, NCO.
1 referral to a hearing.
Question 7. Police reporting
o The number of allegations covered by this request that were reported to the police by the University.
Our response:
Zero.
The Student Life team never encourage a student reporter to use any system – such as reporting to the police. Reporters are presented with their full range of options and then it is their choice as to which mechanisms they choose to utilise, if any.
o If recorded separately, the number where the complainant/student reported the matter to the police themselves.
Our response:
Whilst the complainant/reporting student is encouraged to report the matter to the police, we do not keep figures on how many students choose to report before or after talking to University Student and Academic Services (when making a formal report against a fellow student or requesting support following an incident, they were a victim of). We do not routinely keep figures on how many students reported matters to the police themselves.
o The number of cases in which the University was informed that the matter had already been reported to the police.
Our response:
Please note the following are where we have been informed that the student reported against or student being investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct against a fellow student are also being investigated by the Police, or there is police involvement.
2021-22 - 5
2022-23 - 3
2023-24 - 1
2024-25 - 5
2025-26 - 2
o If the University records whether a police report was made before, during or after the University's disciplinary process, please provide that information.
Our response:
Whilst the complainant/reporting student is encouraged to report the matter to the police, we do not keep figures on how many students choose to report before or after talking to University Student and Academic Services (when making a formal report against a fellow student or requesting support following an incident, they were a victim of). We do not routinely keep figures on whether a police report was made before, during or after disciplinary processes.
Question 8. Advice or encouragement to use the University process instead of reporting to police
Please provide the number of occasions during the period in which a complainant/student was advised, encouraged, directed or otherwise recommended by University staff to allow the matter to be dealt with through the University's student disciplinary/code-of-conduct process rather than reporting the alleged offence to the police.
If the University does not record this as a numerical category, please confirm that the information is not held.
Our response:
Zero.
The Student Life team never encourage a student reporter to use any particular system – whether to contact the Police or use formal University reporting and disciplinary processes. Reporters of sexual misconduct are presented with their full range of options available to them, it is their choice as to which mechanisms they choose to utilise, if any.
Not all students will wish to proceed with a formal University disciplinary investigation or even to formally report an incident of sexual misconduct to the University.
Question 9. Policies and procedures
Please also provide links or copies of the University's policies, regulations or guidance in force during the requested period concerning:
o student sexual misconduct/sexual violence;
o reporting allegations of sexual offences committed by students;
o student disciplinary/code-of-conduct proceedings;
o the role of a complainant or alleged victim within such proceedings
Our response:
Please see accompanying documents, our ref: FOI_26-203 Appendix A, FOI_26-203 Appendix B, FOI_26-203 Appendix C, FOI_26-203 Appendix D and FOI_26-203 Appendix E.
o the circumstances in which matters are referred or reported to the police.
Our response:
Not applicable. The University do not report incidents to the Police themselves. Any reporting of an incident is at the discretion of the student victim themselves.