Tackling bullying, harassment and hate crime requires ongoing commitment from across Queen Mary and we are proud to have already taken some important steps to address such issues. We recognise that this is just the beginning and there is much more work to be done.
Here’s what we have achieved so far:
Data insights
We are committed to increasing transparency and accountability in addressing issues of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct within our community. We have therefore published data insights from our first year of operating Report + Support and continue to provide annual reporting. You can view our Insights Reports here.
This data has provided valuable insights into the types of incidents which have been experienced by members of our community and informs priority areas for us to focus on. We recognise that this only represents reports from those who felt able to make a report to us via Report + Support; there will be others who have experienced incidents of harassment, bullying and violence that are not captured within this report.
Our work to tackle these issues requires ongoing commitment, honest discussion and adequate resourcing to make meaningful change.
Data insights
We are committed to increasing transparency and accountability in addressing issues of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct within our community. We have therefore published data insights from our first year of operating Report + Support and continue to provide annual reporting. You can view our Insights Reports here.
This data has provided valuable insights into the types of incidents which have been experienced by members of our community and informs priority areas for us to focus on. We recognise that this only represents reports from those who felt able to make a report to us via Report + Support; there will be others who have experienced incidents of harassment, bullying and violence that are not captured within this report.
Our work to tackle these issues requires ongoing commitment, honest discussion and adequate resourcing to make meaningful change.
In April 2021, the Dignity at Work and Study Group was re-purposed to form a dedicated, university-wide Working Group called Preventing and Address Harassment and Sexual Misconduct. This group is co-chaired by Alex Prestage, Head of EDI and Simon Jarvis, Head of Student Wellbeing. The group has representation from across the Queen Mary Faculties, HR and Student and Academic Services, as well as partnership with Queen Mary Students' Union. The group reports to the Queen Mary Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group (EDI-SG) and is informed by the Office for Students Statement of Expectations.
Awareness raising and training
We run regular communications and campaigns to raise awareness of important issues, how to report and how to access support, including:
We run regular communications and campaigns to raise awareness of important issues, how to report and how to access support, including:
- Rolled out Consent Training to all enrolled students,
- Raised awareness of coercive control and other forms of violence against women and girls,
- Raised awareness of LGBTQ+ hate crime,
- Campaigns to address inappropriate online behaviours, directly informed by our Report + Support data,
- Targeted materials to all new students in Welcome Week resources,
- Delivered staff training on important issues such as Responding to disclosures of sexual violence, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Hate Crime Awareness and Active Bystander training.
Policy and procedures
- In November 2019 we launched Report + Support, which offers a simplified and centralised place to report and access support information.
- Held regular meetings with the Dignity at Work and Study Steering Group to support the development and implementation of Report + Support.
- Since 2018, we have developed new and revised policies. The Dignity at Work and Study General Guidance provides information on our rights and responsibilities and how we expect our staff and students to behave with one another. This is supported by a new Dignity at Work and Study Policy and an updated Student Discipline Policy and this guidance on Student Behaviour and Discipline, which gives clearer information on the possible sanctions in response to unacceptable behaviour. The new Policy on Relationships between Staff and Students is intended to ensure that the staff-student relationship is one that is founded on mutual trust, confidence and respect.
We will:
- Continue to identify training areas for staff, and education opportunities for our students. Look out for future training dates via our training page and the Professional Development booking system.
- Report annually on the anonymised incident trends that are reported to us. As we build a clearer picture of incident trends, we will identify further training and prevention interventions. Our reports will include information on the number and type of reports received, actions taken and next steps for the institution.
What you can do:
We need your support to help us continue to tackle all forms of bullying, harassment and hate.
We need your support to help us continue to tackle all forms of bullying, harassment and hate.
Stand up!
- Start the conversation by talking about bullying and harassment. Share your experiences by reporting to us to help break the taboo and make reporting the new norm.
Call it out!
- Call out problematic behaviour when you see it, if it is safe to do so.
- Sign up to staff bystander intervention training
- Contact QMSU to sign up for student bystander intervention training
Change the norm!
- Role model respectful behaviour. Reflect on your own behaviours and consider how they are received by others.
- Promote change by sharing our campaigns and displaying posters in your School/Department buildings. To request posters and other materials, please email reportandsupport@qmul.ac.uk