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Condition E6: Student harassment and sexual misconduct

At London Metropolitan University, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can thrive. Student safety is a priority, and we are continually working to uphold the highest standards in preventing and responding to harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct.

This webpage is the University's Single Comprehensive Source of Information (SCSI), as required by the Office for Students (Condition E6). It summarises our approach to student harassment and sexual misconduct, including:

  • Definitions of harassment and sexual misconduct
  • Our policies and reporting procedures
  • Guidance on intimate personal relationships between staff and students
  • Our responsibilities under freedom of speech legislation
  • Sources of support, training, and investigation procedures

The University encourages use of the Report and Support portal as the first point of contact. It provides clear reporting options, access to trained advisors, and enables us to monitor and respond to disclosures effectively.

Single comprehensive source of information

Sexual misconduct is defined in the University’s Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy as follows: 

“Harassment” is unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This includes harassment by association or perception. 

‘Sexual Misconduct’ relates to all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Sexual harassment as defined by Section 26(2) Equality Act 2010.
  • Assault as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
  • Rape as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
  • Physical unwanted sexual advances as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law, 2017.
  • Intimidation or promising resources or benefits in return for sexual favours as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law, 2017.
  • Distributing private and personal explicit images or video footage of an individual without their consent as defined by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

Harassment and sexual misconduct may occur:

  • Between students
  • Between staff members
  • Between students and staff
  • Involving third parties or visitors

For the sake of clarity incidents reported of harassment and sexual violence or sexual misconduct that take place both on and off University premises, including those that occur outside of standard academic hours will be supported. It extends to any setting or context considered part of “normal University business”, which includes but is not limited to:

  • Field trips, placements, study abroad or international mobility programmes
  • Student society events and sports activities, whether on or off campus
  • Work-related functions or industry-facing events facilitated by the University
  • Online platforms, including university-sanctioned social media groups or learning environments, University accommodation and third-party managed halls

The University’s responsibilities also apply to digital communications and online harassment involving members of the University community, where the behaviour breaches this policy or impacts the wellbeing or safety of students or staff.

Our Report and Support portal can be accessed for further information on What is bullying?, What is harassment? and What is sexual misconduct and assault? You can also see our student handbook that outlines our commitment to preventing and reporting harassment and sexual misconduct.

All our students are required to complete training on harassment and sexual misconduct when they start studying with us and this training is refreshed every year. Our staff also undergo training so they can detect, report and support students.

The University provides a dedicated portal, Report and Support, which students and staff can use to disclose incidents of bullying, discrimination, harassment, hate crime, and sexual misconduct. You can choose to report anonymously or request to speak with a trained advisor from the Student Success team. Advisors will explain your options in confidence, help to access appropriate support, and assist you in making and informed decision about what happens next.

The University encourages use of the Report and Support portal as the first point of contact. This enables timely access to trained advisors, supports informed decision making, and allows the University to monitor and respond to disclosures effectively.

If you do not wish to use Report and Support, there are other ways to raise a concern. The Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy, outlines additional reporting options., including speaking directly with a Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Officer (SVSMO) or any trusted member of staff. However, we encourage students and staff to use Report and Support wherever possible to ensure they can access specialist guidance and coordinated care.

Students and staff can disclose how they have been affected by harassment and sexual misconduct using the University’s Report and Support portal. You can choose to do this anonymously or request support from a trained advisor from the Student Success Team. Advisors will explain your options in confidence and help you access appropriate support.

If you request to speak to a Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Officer (SVSMO), they will provide tailored, confidential guidance. All SVSMOs have received specialist training to handle disclosures sensitively and effectively.

Support is also available for students who are facing allegations. In line with the Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy , students will be assigned a named staff contact for support. Addition guidance is available through the Report and Support portal, including resources specifically for students accused of misconduct. Further support is available from the University’s Counselling Service and the London Met Students’ Union.

To help ensure informed decision making and co-ordinated care – we encourage students and staff to use the Report and Support portal as the first point of contact.

Further information is available via Report and Support:

The following policies are relevant to how we investigate allegations of student harassment and sexual misconduct:

The Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy defines what harassment and sexual misconduct are and sets out the University’s approach to preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct.

In terms of how incidents are investigated, the Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy specifies that:

Ensuring confidentiality is a key principle in creating a culture where those affected feel safe to make a disclosure about harassment and sexual misconduct.

The University will take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and privacy of those who disclose harassment and sexual misconduct. However, there may be circumstances (e.g. in order to protect an individual at risk) where we are required to share information with other agencies or to share information internally. Further details about confidentiality and information sharing are provided in the Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy , the Student Confidentiality Policy and the Report and Support FAQs for the Report and Support portal.

In accordance with the  Student Disciplinary Procedure, where it is reasonable and practicable to do so in accordance with its duties and obligations under data protection legislation, the University will provide the student that has raised an  allegation of harassment or sexual misconduct with an outcome of the investigation and/or an explanation of any actions that the University has taken, or not taken. This includes where the outcome is changed for any reason. However, it may only be possible for the University to provide limited information depending on the circumstances.

When a disclosure is made to ensure effective co-ordination over allegations by students against staff, the case will be triaged to HR who will deal with the staff component of the complaint. The case will be considered under the Staff Disciplinary Policy and Procedure (login required). This includes:

  • Ensuring that the Complaints Officer is provided sufficient information to enable student expectations to be managed effectively and to provide the student who has made the allegation with progress updates;
  • Ensuring that once the investigation is concluded, appropriate information regarding the outcome and next steps is provided to the complaints officer in order for information to be shared with the student such as it is possible for the University to provide in accordance with its duties and obligations under data protection law. 

We’re committed to ensuring that students understand what constitutes harassment and sexual misconduct and how to report it, the support available to them, what consent is and how to intervene effectively.

  • We have been delivering the Good Course to all new students which covers issues such as consent, harassment and what constitutes sexual misconduct. The course also looks at rape culture and how to become an active bystander against sexual violence and harassment. After completing it, we hope students will be confident making a stand against harassment and sexual misconduct and advocating for others, be an active bystander, understand what does and doesn’t count as consent, and be able to dispel myths about sexual assault. Everyone on the course is invited to complete a survey to help us evaluate and improve it.
  • We are launching online training for staff that explains the definitions of harassment and sexual misconduct along with their role in supporting students and dealing with disclosures.

  • Staff involved in specialist roles such as student support and complaints will have in depth training on dealing with sexual violence and harassment along with carrying out investigations.

We are committed to protecting students from any actual or potential conflict of interest and/or abuse of power that may arise from intimate personal relationships with staff. Our Personal Relationships at Work Policy strongly discourages personal relationships between staff and students, except for pre-existing relationships which must be declared so any conflicts of interest can be managed. We take these matters seriously to ensure fairness, safety, and transparency. 

We are committed to taking steps that will make a significant and credible difference to protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. These include:

  • Analysing data on use of our Report and Support reporting portal.
  • Using any findings or themes to improve our processes.
  • Take feedback students and staff, evaluating the results and making changes to the training and support where appropriate.
  • Consulting with the London Met Students’ Union on changes to our student policies on harassment and sexual misconduct. Students are represented on the committees where these policies are approved.

Since September 2024 the Office for Students has prohibited universities from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct. London Metropolitan University does not use NDAs. 

London Met is here to support its community, please don’t struggle alone. Students in need of support are encouraged to use London Met services and resources, as well as speak to trusted members of staff or their peers. Please see a list below of additional avenues of support:

As well as the internal support available for students that report an incident it is important to be aware of external agencies that can provide specialist advice and support. Below is a list of organisations suport agencies that can provide support.  

  • Rape Crisis: 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line