Report and disclosure options

Reporting Options 

If you have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct, Birmingham Newman University is committed to supporting you. You have control over what steps you take, there are several ways to report the incident, if you choose to do so. 

Below we will outline how you can report to the police, the University, or access support without making a formal report. 

It’s your choice. It’s completely up to you whether or not to report what’s happened, but you might find it helpful to talk to someone so you are not alone. There are a few options: 

• Reporting to the Police 
  In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999. 
   
  If you feel it is not an emergency, you can still report the incident to the police by calling 101 or by using the West Midlands Police Live Chat or find your local police force. An officer will take some details and should issue you with a crime reference number. There are specially trained staff and units within Police forces that can support you through the reporting process. Find out more about your options for reporting sexual violence to the police. 
   

• Speak to an Adviser 
  Students can email studentsuccess@newman.ac.uk to arrange to speak to a member of the team, or they can pop into Student Success on the first floor of Dwyer Building, across the bridge from the Library. It can take up to 2 working days (Monday – Friday) for us to respond to emails, but if you visit us or call us we will do our best to find someone to speak with you on the same day or next working day (Monday – Friday) wherever possible. 
   
  Any queries will be signposted to the most relevant person in the team, including our Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) if the incident relates to sexual violence. 
   

• Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically 
  This reporting form can be used to report incidents of sexual misconduct against students or staff specifically. The form will be submitted to the complaints team who will review your report and consider whether formal disciplinary action can take place. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available (such as our Sexual Violence Liaison Officers) if appropriate. 
  

• Submit a formal complaint 
  A formal complaint against students or staff about sexual misconduct or harassment (sexual and not sexual) can also be made under the usual complaints procedure. The complaints team will deal with the report with the relevant disciplinary action. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available (such as our Sexual Violence Liaison Officers) if appropriate. 
   

If you need any further information, advice or support on any of these reporting options, you can contact complaints@newman.ac.uk or studentsuccess@newman.ac.uk. You can also contact the Students’ Union Advice team on su-advice@newman.ac.uk if you have any queries relating to the complaints processes or any support in submitted a report.

Contact an Advisor within HR:

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Reporting Options  

If you have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct, Birmingham Newman University is committed to supporting you. You have control over what steps you take, there are several ways to report or disclose the incident, if you choose to do so.  

Below we will outline how you can report to the police, the University, or access support without making a formal report.  

It’s your choice. It’s completely up to you whether or not to report what’s happened. There are a few options:  

• Reporting to the Police 
  In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999. 
    
  If you feel it is not an emergency, you can still report the incident to the police by calling 101 or by using the West Midlands Police Live Chat or find your local police force. An officer will take some details and should issue you with a crime reference number. There are specially trained staff and units within Police forces that can support you through the reporting process. Find out more about your options for reporting sexual violence to the police.  

• Contact an Advisor  
  Staff have the option to Disclose or Report the unwanted incident or conduct to an Advisor within Human Resources or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor by: 

• Telephone: Contact Us Human Resources  

• Book an Appointment: Contact an Advisor Form (includes contact details) 

• Contact:   Dignity at Work Contacts 

• Email HR: discloseandsupport@newman.ac.uk  

• OR 

• Disclose an incident via our Disclose with Contact Details Form

If you chose to contact an Advisor within HR or a Dignity at Work Contact Advisor, they will be able to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. You can find more information about contacting an Advisor here. 

Please be aware that there may be occasions where you disclose something to an individual where they are unable to keep the information you have disclosed confidential. They may be obliged to inform the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officer for staff of a disclosure if: 

You are under 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the disclosure involves or may impact an individual who is under the age of 18 / an ‘adult at risk’ (as defined within the University’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedure: Safeguarding Policy 

If the individual who has received your disclosure suspects that you are at risk of causing harm to yourself or others 

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, the University may judge that action is required even if the person disclosing an incident(s) is not requesting any. 

• Complain about Sexual Misconduct specifically 
  This form can be used to report or disclose incidents of sexual misconduct against students or staff specifically. The form will be submitted to a trained practitioner within HR. The HR team will then contact you to provide you with advice and guidance about the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice on what you’d like to do next. The team may also signpost you to other support that is available to you.  

• Submit a formal complaint 
  A formal complaint against students, staff or third parties (visitors, contractors and members of the public) relating to sexual misconduct or harassment (sexual and not sexual) can also be made under the usual Staff Grievance Policy and Procedure, Staff Dignity at Work Policy and Procedure, Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy documents. Your formal compliant will be acknowledged by a manager within the University who may also signpost you to other support that is available to you. 

If none of these options seem appropriate to you, you may choose to disclose an unwanted incident or conduct anonymously:

Whichever option you choose, you need to be aware that disclosing and reporting an incident are separate decisions that result in different levels of response or action from the University.  

Please be aware that choosing to disclose anonymously means we will not be able to help you directly. The information you give us will help us to provide better support to others and inform prevention work across the university. However, disclosing anonymously will not lead to formal action being taken. 

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

More information about reporting and disclosures for staff can be found here: Anonymous Disclosures – What to Expect  

What are my options?

Birmingham Newman University is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of our community.

We take the concerns of our local community very seriously and we expect students and staff to behave in a way that is respectful and courteous of their neighbours and other members of their community.

Concerns relating to harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, discrimination or any behaviour that may cause harm or distress can be reported here.

Visitors, contractors and members of the public who feel they have experienced or witnessed bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct by an employee or student while at Birmingham Newman University or while participating in a Birmingham Newman activity, who wish to raise a concern or make a report. All reports will be reviewed.

Please note, however, that where a report is submitted anonymously or by someone not directly involved, our ability to take direct action may be limited.

Make a Formal Complaint (via Members of the Public Complaint’s Procedure)

Disclose an unwanted incident(s) anonymously:

Other Complaints

The above reporting form should be used for concerns relating to harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, discrimination or any behaviour that may cause harm or distress. If you would like to make a complaint about any of the following: 

a) the quality and standard of any service the University provides or fails to provide

b) the quality of the University’s facilities and resources

c) failure of the University to follow an appropriate administrative process

Then, please refer to our Complaints Procedure for Members of the Public, please see: Members of the Public Complaints Procedure.

External support for visitors, contractors, and members of the public

While the University cannot provide welfare support to members of the public, it has compiled external support options which are available both nationally and locally. These can be accessed here: How to access support – Birmingham Newman University