Harassment

If you are experiencing harassment of any kind, find out where you can go for support.

Forms of harassment can include bullying, stalking, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, relationship abuse and more. At LMH, harassment is taken very seriously, and the welfare of victims is a priority. LMH has its own harassment policy and procedure. The University policy on harassment, based on the Equality Act, can be found here.

Much of the information below is taken from the University's webpage on Harassment & Abuse. There is a flow diagram with possible procedural steps here.

Your approach to dealing with harassment is your own choice, but if you would like to contact the police you are encouraged to do so.

• Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Stalking are crimes and can at any time be reported to the police.
• Call 999 for emergencies, or 101 for non-emergencies. If you are frightened, the police can help you.

• The University also publishes webpages with advice and resources for survivors of sexual assault.
• Victims First - provides specialist support for victims and witnesses of crime including rape and sexual abuse, exploitation and modern slavery and can provide Restorative Justice services. Tel: 0300 1234 148
• Oxford Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Centre tel: 0800 783 6294 or 01865 726295 (Monday & Thursday: 6.30pm-9.00pm; Sunday, 6.00pm - 8.30pm) or email support@osarcc.org.uk. Women and girls only. support@osarcc.org.uk 
• Nightline offers a walk home service when calling and has an instant messaging platform at http://oxfordnightline.org/open-im

Local resources

• Stop Hate - fighting hate crime
• Thames Valley Restorative Justice, tel 01844 202 001
• Support for Young People Affected by Crime (age 8-25), tel: 01865 582495
• Victims Assessment and Referral Centre,  free on 08 08 16 89 111
• Domestic Abuse Complex Needs – Oxfordshire - contact@reducingtherisk.org.uk
• Domestic Abuse Complex Needs – Berkshire - 0118 950 4003
• SMART!, helping adults and young people, families and those with complex needs - info@smartcjs.org.uk
• Exploitation and Slavery – The Mustard Tree, based in Reading -  01189 567 000
• Support for the marginalised and disenfranchised, Elmore Community Services - 01865 200 130

National resources

• Protection Against Stalking - support@protectionagainststalking.org 
• National Stalking Helpline, run by Suzy Lamplugh Trust - tel: 0808 802 0300. If you feel you are in immediate danger, call 999
• Rape Crisis England and Wales - rcewinfo@rapecrisis.org.uk
• Holly Guard is an iPhone app which turns your smart phone into a personal safety device https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hollie-guard/id1033851499?mt=8

Here you can find details of information, support and links for those who have experienced or are still experiencing sexual violence or harassment.

LMH has zero tolerance of sexual violence. LMH has its own harassment policy and procedure. You can also follow this link to the University's policy and procedures on sexual violence. There are more resources for the LGBTQ+ community here.

If you have experienced sexual violence you may wish to consider any or all of the options below, but how you proceed is entirely your decision:

• You can call the police and report the incident, where evidence will be collected. Information about preserving evidence can be found here.
• You can go to a Solace or Sexual Assault Referral Centre, where you can receive medical and forensic help without necessarily getting the police involved.
• You can receive medical attention from A&E, your GP or Anne Harpin. You can receive emotional support from our Sexual Assault First Responders, or any of our Welfare Team - all contacts are listed here. You can also receive emotional support from the University's free Counselling Service (not an emergency service).

The University emphasises that drugs and alcohol do not constitute excuses for any type of harassment. It also underlines that a victim should not have to state that any behaviour they have experience is unwanted. Oxford University's new support centre, campaign and web resource is called Oxford Against Sexual Violence.

If you are approached by an individual for advice and support in relation to sexual assault or sexual violence, including rape, you should support them in contacting the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service at supportservice@admin.ox.ac.uk

The new Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service provides a safe place for students be heard - independent of their college or department. It offers free support and advice to any student who has been affected by sexual harassment or violence.

The service supports students in all situations, whether the experiences of sexual harassment or violence happened in Oxford or elsewhere, and whether it was recent or in the past.

The specialist advisors are trained to support students at their pace. We help them explore their options, and we’ll be there to support them through whatever option they choose.

Whistle logo by © Niamh Simpson