Concerns about bullying, harassment and hate crime

At York St John University we are committed to ensuring effective prevention and effective responses to bullying, harassment and hate crime.

We will take reports of these incidents seriously and act upon them. The University actively encourages students who experience and anyone who witnesses bullying, harassment or hate crime to report it and to seek support.

Bullying, harassment and hate crime

Bullying and harassment are used interchangeably. They can be described as unwanted conduct related to protected characteristics, which violate an individual's dignity or create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. York St John uses the terms 'gender identity and expression' for gender reassignment and 'gender' for sex.

A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender. It does not matter whether the victim actually belongs to the group at which the hostility is targeted. Incitement to racial hatred and incitement to religious hatred are criminal offences.

Report and Support

The Student Dignity and Respect Policy sets out the University's expectations for student behaviour and conduct, as well as that of our wider community: Student Dignity and Respect Policy (PDF, 0.3MB).

Any conduct or behaviour which contravenes these expectations and jeopardises the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of our students and community is not acceptable.

The Report and Support online platform provides further information about unacceptable behaviours, how to make disclosures and report incidents, and where to seek help and support.

Report and Support

We strongly encourage you to seek advice and speak to a Welfare Adviser by booking an appointment. They will listen to your concerns and talk you through your options.

Book a welfare appointment

If you are in immediate danger or risk of harm you should contact emergency services by calling 999, and University security when on campus.

What happens when your report is submitted

Your report will be reviewed and assessed to determine how your concern will be addressed and any provisional action the University may need to take to keep you safe.

If you leave your details, you will be contacted to discuss options and any support you may need. We may ask you for further information or evidence at this stage to ensure we fully understand your concerns.

We understand that you may not feel comfortable raising a concern, maybe because you feel it will make things worse, or you may not be believed. Any disclosures made will be taken seriously and treated sensitively, and the University will work with you to decide if you wish to take further steps.

There is also an option to make an anonymous disclosure through Report and Support. These will also be reviewed and inform improvements, however it not usually possible to respond to anonymous disclosures directly.