Building a Safe and Welcoming Campus

We’re working hard to build a respectful, inclusive campus where students feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. This page outlines the University’s strategy for tackling harassment, sexual misconduct, and other safety concerns, and highlights the steps we’re taking to promote a positive culture for everyone.

Safe and Welcoming Campus Strategy

Introduction

This document provides an overview of the work we are undertaking to address harassment and sexual misconduct within the University of Liverpool. The University of Liverpool takes harassment and sexual misconduct extremely seriously and has a number of proactive interventions in place to tackle these behaviours These interventions include support services, policies and procedures and they enable an inclusive, safe and welcoming campus.

The importance of a safe and inclusive campus for student experience is set out in the University’s strategy Liverpool 2031: Our Strategic Ambitions

We recognise that students face a wide range of challenges, and we need to ensure that our provision, policies and practices meet their needs and address the issues they face. We need to be dynamic to respond to changing institutional and external circumstances, whilst having clear policy frameworks which students and staff can understand and that create clear and transparent approaches. This is an extensive area of work, much of which is often not visible to students and staff at the University. This work includes harassment and sexual violence and extends to consider issues which impact on safety such as drugs and alcohol, freedom of speech and safeguarding. This strategy documents key areas of activity and associated policies, sets out our ambitions in this area and is accompanied by an action plan which sets out improvement and enhancement activities. 

The strategy will be overseen by the Safe and Welcoming Campus Board reporting to the Student Success Board and the Health and Safety Governance Committee.

Strategic Objectives

Objective 4 in Liverpool 2031 Education and Student Experience is to:

Provide the highest-level of support to ensure all students achieve personal and academic success - developing each student’s ability to manage their wellbeing and feel welcome in a caring, respectful and inclusive community and campuses, underpinned by our Student Success Framework.

We will:

Build respectful, supportive and inclusive communities by providing effective induction and welcome programmes along with other experiences throughout the year that engage and involve students to ensure they all feel safe, secure and welcome on our campuses.

The Safe and Welcoming Campus Strategy is key to delivering on this objective.  We recognise that the University operates within a wider local, national and international context.  These objectives set out specific areas of focus and action for the University although we recognise that we cannot address those wider issues alone and will continue to work in partnership with others to do so. 

Prevention

  • Create a campus which promotes students’ safety
  • Create an environment where there are clear expectations about behaviour and students feel safe
  • Provide students with information about personal safety and safety initiatives across the city including in the night time economy

Culture

  • Ensure the University has appropriate policies in place to address student safety and safeguarding issues
  • Promote freedom of speech within the law for all students
  • Encourage reporting of unacceptable behaviour including harassment and sexual misconduct with clear reporting routes
  • Publish an annual report on Report and Support, the University’s online reporting platform
  • Be transparent about the number of complaints about all forms of student misconduct and their outcomes

Response

  • Provide clear responses to the range of issues which impact on student safety
  • Respond in a timely and trauma informed manner to allegations of misconduct including harassment and sexual misconduct
  • Investigate complaints in a timely manner with appropriate consideration for all parties

Working in Partnership with Students

The Guild of Students represents the views of students on campus.  Student safety issues have been key campaigning issues for student officers for many years, and we work closely with student officers and Guild staff to ensure a joined up and effective approach to student safety.  Guild Officers are part of the Safe and Welcoming Campus Board and its associated operational groups.  We know that some messages are more effective when promoted by the Guild than by the University and that different student groups may respond to different approaches to engagement and messaging.  

The Guild undertake discrete activity in relation to Student Safety as well as working with the university on a range of issues.  We have highlighted areas of partnership working throughout this document and continue to seek to find new ways of working together to engage students in this work.

Our students are diverse and have a wide range of concerns in relation to their safety and the safety of the wider student community.   We recognise that identities are intersectional and this informs the way we work with students.

We will work with student groups, particularly those representing equality groups, to understand better their particular needs.

Expectations

Student Behaviour

We believe that creating strong cultural expectations about appropriate behaviour is key to achieving sustained behavioural change and we will continue to work in partnership with the Guild of Students to create a positive culture amongst our student body.  Our Student Conduct Policy sets out expected standards of behaviour that requires our students to always behave as responsible members of the University community. They are required to represent and uphold the good name of the University which will allow all students and staff to study and work in a safe environment.  The University’s duty in relation to Freedom of Speech will be considered when looking at student conduct issues. It is expected that students’ written and verbal communications will be within the law and will be respectful of others.

Appendix B of the Student Conduct Policy provides detailed examples of behaviour which the University deems to be unacceptable and the potential sanctions for that behaviour.  Examples are given of physical misconduct, sexual misconduct (contact and non-contact), abusive behaviour, property, health and safety breaches, alcohol and drug misuse, fraud and dishonesty, and impacting on the activities or reputation of the University.  It also sets out a range of aggravating factors which include misconduct related to protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.  

The Student Conduct Policy sets out how allegations of misconduct will be investigated and the potential sanctions for different types of misconduct making the potential consequences for misconduct clear to students.

Students will be made aware of this Policy on an annual basis as part of our registration and induction processes.

Staff Behaviour

Expectations about staff behaviour can be found on the Expectations of Staff webpage. 

For policies to be effective students and staff need to know about them.  To support this strategy, we will consider how we can effectively measure this awareness.

Activities to Support Student Safety

The University is engaged in a range of activities to promote student safety and create a safe and welcoming campus environment.  This section summarises these key areas of work.

Prevention

Safety on Campus

Creating a safe campus environment refers to both the physical environment and the behavioural expectations of students and staff.  Campus design plays a key role in creating a safe environment and this will be considered as part of the design principles and work of the Inclusive Campus Steering Group.  Staff can raise concerns about campus design with their nominated departmental contact or Building Manager who can report this to Property and Campus Services through the Service Hub.

Any student concerns over campus safety, whether related to physical spaces or the actions of individuals/groups, should be raised via Campus Support. The Campus Support Control Room is staffed 24/7 and can be reached on 0151 794 3252 or 0151 794 2222 in an emergency.

Campus Support play a key role in ensuring the physical safety of students, staff and visitors.  Campus Support staff respond to incidents, including those occurring out of hours, and offer a night time Chaperone Service for students and staff walking alone on campus at night. Students and staff can also access the SafeZone app. This app allows the university community to contact Campus Support for assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The University Police Officer provides crime prevention advice to students and staff and can also assist students when reporting crimes.  To reduce the impact of crime on our students we have an information sharing agreement with Merseyside Police.

Students moving into University Accommodation complete an induction programme before moving into their accommodation which includes awareness raising in relation to personal safety and safety in halls.

Student Safety in the City

Students live, work and socialise in our city and we work closely with Liverpool City Council and partner agencies, including the Guild, to improve student safety across the city with a particular focus on the night time economy.  The University co-chairs the Student Safety Group, which identifies and funds a range of initiatives such as Operation Fresher which ensures an enhanced police presence at key locations across the city at the beginning of the academic year and has oversight of Student Safety Campaigns which run across the city. 

Awareness Raising

Awareness raising amongst students and staff is a key part of creating a safe and welcoming campus.  Safety messages form part of the annual communications calendar to ensure that key messages are presented to students at relevant points in the year.  Scheduling messaging in this way reduces overload.  Where new safety issues emerge, we will run specific campaigns.  There is regular messaging through multiple channels about harassment and sexual violence and reporting routes.  There are regular accommodation specific messages in university owned student accommodation and private student accommodation accredited by Liverpool Student Homes which is part funded by the University.  The Guild also run specific safety awareness raising and culture change campaigns. 

Drugs and Alcohol

We recognise that drugs and alcohol can impact on student safety.  Our Student Alcohol and Drugs Policy sets out our approach to drug and alcohol use amongst the student body.   We will provide non-judgemental awareness raising campaigns and educational material.  We work with local agencies who provide specialist support on campus for students and who also offer training to staff and students on drugs and alcohol concerns.  

We work with the Council on the Purple Flag Scheme and Best Bar None to help students to identify safe venues within the city.  The Guild bars are accredited by Best Bar None demonstrating their commitment to remaining a safer nighttime environment.  We will continue to work for improvements in the nighttime economy and to respond to concerns such as those raised in 2021 in relation to drink spiking.  Our established relationships with the Council and the Police are key to enabling a quick response to emerging issues in the nighttime economy.

We have introduced the opportunity for students applying for Halls of Residence to request alcohol free accommodation.  This provides a more welcoming environment for students who do not drink personal, cultural or religious reasons as well as providing an alcohol-free environment for those who are recovering from alcohol addiction.

Culture

Building a Strong Campus Community

Strong campus communities are based on students having opportunities to engage with others with a wide range of viewpoints and to build connections and a sense of belonging.  The Guild is key to supporting the University to deliver a wide range of opportunities outside of students’ programmes which facilitate this.  Student-led societies provide opportunities for students to connect on shared interests, issues or beliefs.  The Guild support these societies to thrive and to engage with one another.

The University also works with local faith organisations to ensure there is chaplaincy support on campus available to students, of all faiths and none. 

Ensuring Freedom of Speech on Campus

A Safe and Welcoming Campus is one where students and staff can freely discuss debate and disagree.  The University has a strong tradition of encouraging debate and openness on the most difficult of topics.  Such a culture challenges harassment and discrimination by encouraging staff and students to examine and discuss difficult topics.   The Policy and Code of Practice Regarding Freedom of Speech sets out our approach to ensuring Freedom of Speech within the law and is a shared Policy with the Liverpool Guild of Students. 

Working with Students and Student Leaders

Students are key to creating a positive culture on campus and we will continue our approach of working with student leaders to create positive cultures within student societies and sports clubs.  The University developed Bystander Training as part of a Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) funded project in 2018.  This has been further developed and delivered by the Guild since the end of the project demonstrating our partnership approach to this work. Bystander training and signposting training are required for key committee members in Guild Societies and Sports Groups; Residential Advisers within our accommodation are also invited to attend this training on an annual basis.  This training is being extended to other student cohorts.   

Information about consent is included in an online module which all new students are expected to complete. This training will ensure that all students understand behaviour that may constitute as harassment and/or sexual misconduct.  This training will be mandatory however there will be an opt out process for any student who has good reason not to undertake this training.  

We will continue to monitor the number of students who engage with Bystander training and will report this progress annually.

Personal Relationships

Safe personal relationships are a key part of individual safety and wellbeing. The University recognises that there are power imbalances between staff and students and that these may lead to situations in which students feel pressured including into sexual activity.  The University’s Personal Relationships Policy sets out our approach to Personal Relationships.  Staff are advised not to have personal relationships with students but where they do so they are required to declare any personal relationships with students or other staff members whether sexual or otherwise.  Records of personal relationships are maintained, and staff should not be involved in the academic assessment or progress of any student with whom they have a personal relationship.

Responding to Misconduct

Reporting Harassment or Sexual Misconduct

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to prevent misconduct, and where students have experienced misconduct, harassment or abuse, we have a range of reporting mechanisms in place including the online reporting platform, Report and Support. Students can report anonymously or provide a named report in which case a member of our Wellbeing Team will contact the student to discuss possible next steps.  Where the incident involves another student, or a member of staff next steps could include initiating a student conduct investigation or staff disciplinary investigation and/ or reporting to the police. Information about how this information will be handled can be found in this Privacy Notice.  Report and Support provides information and advice about a variety of forms of harassment and misconduct including information about internal and external sources of support.

Our Counselling and Wellbeing Services provide support to those who have experienced physical or sexual assault including a range of trauma informed interventions.

Students who are being investigated by the Police

Students who are subject to police investigation are required to inform the University of this by completing an Initial Declaration of Criminal Investigations, Charges, Cautions, Convictions or Community Resolution Orders whilst Registered on a Programme of Study.  The University may conduct a Risk Assessment and put measures in place to manage any risk whilst investigations are ongoing.  Students involved in a criminal investigation will be provided with a named adviser from Student Services or their School.

Sexual Assault

Students can, and are encouraged to, report physical or sexual assaults by another student or staff member to the University or to the Police.  Our Report and Support Platform provides information about other reporting routes including information about reporting to the Police and the local Rape and Sexual Assault Service.   If a student reports an assault to the Police the University will not commence a disciplinary investigation until criminal proceedings have been completed. 

Where the assault is by another student the University may conduct a Risk Assessment Panel as set out in the Student Conduct Policy and put measures in place to manage any risk whilst investigations are ongoing.  Where the assault is by a staff member Human Resources and the Student Conduct Team will conduct a risk assessment.

Domestic Abuse

We have an increasing understanding of the needs of students who may be victims of Domestic Abuse, including intra family violence and so- called honour-based violence.  Students can report this through Report and Support.  Our Wellbeing Advisers have expertise in this area and can work with students and external agencies to create safety plans.  We are members of the local Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) which considers the needs of high- risk victims of domestic abuse and coordinates multiagency support.

Harassment and Hate Crime

The University promotes understanding between different student groups and does not tolerate any form of harassment.  Where harassment is linked to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act this may be considered hate crime.  Harassment and Hate Crime can be reported through the Report and Support platform.  Where reports are named, we will discuss with the student what action they would like to see following the report.  Where reports are anonymous, we will monitor for any trends and discuss potential interventions to address broader cultural issues.

The Report and Support Annual Report will include monitoring of named and anonymous reports and trends and follow up actions will be outlined.

Students as Victims of Crime

Students who are victims of crime are encouraged to report it to the police.  Where the alleged perpetrator is also a University of Liverpool student, we encourage students to report this to the University either through Report and Support, or via the Student Conduct Concerns reporting form.  Students can also report directly to the Wellbeing Practitioners. The University Police Officer can advise on reporting procedures and will support students in reporting crimes to the police. The University Police Officer can be accessed via Campus Support. If the alleged perpetrator is a student, the University cannot commence disciplinary action until criminal proceedings have concluded.  The University may undertake a risk assessment and put measures in place to manage any risk whilst investigations are ongoing.  For more information see the Student Conduct Policy.

Safeguarding Concerns

Where students are under 18, concerns about their safety may also be safeguarding concerns and we will act on these in line with our Policy on the Safeguarding of Children and Young People.  We also take a safeguarding approach to students who may become drawn into radicalisation and work with our local Prevent Team to provide information and education and where necessary referral for specialist support.  Safeguarding concerns requiring immediate action should be reported to the Head of Student Services during office hours or to Campus Support outside of office hours.

Investigating Allegations of Harassment or Sexual Misconduct

We recognise that not all students who report harassment or sexual misconduct want to participate in an investigation.  We take a trauma informed, victim-led approach to investigations and will discuss options with the reporting student.  Students will not be pressurised into choosing one option over another. If a student does want to make a report, we will be led by the student and make it as easy as possible to make a report. Cases of Harassment or Sexual Misconduct will normally be investigated by one of our Specialist Investigating Officers.  The staff have received training in investigations either from the police or a recognised training provider and are supervised by someone with experience in complex case investigations.

Our Student Conduct Policy sets out the details of the Investigation Process for students and this will be explained by a member of the Student Conduct Complaints and Compliance Team to the reporting student once they have indicated that they wish the matter to be investigated by the University.  Reporting and responding students are offered support throughout the investigation by a named Wellbeing Practitioner who plays no role in the investigation.  The Guild Advice Centre offers impartial advice and support to all students involved in Student Conduct Procedures.

We believe it is important to be as transparent about our procedures, potential and actual outcomes of cases whilst appropriately maintaining the confidentiality of those involved.  The procedures for a University Disciplinary Hearing are set out in Appendix A to the Student Conduct Policy.  Appendix B of the Student Conduct Policy sets out indicative sanctions so reporting and responding students will know the range of sanctions for different breaches of the Code.  Responding and reporting students are made aware of the outcomes of the University Disciplinary Panel.  Information about sanctions will be shared with the reporting student on case-by-case basis in line with UUK guidance.  We will report to Senate an annual summary of the number and types of cases and range of sanctions applied as a result of University Disciplinary Panels, this information will also be reviewed by Safe and Welcoming Campus Board.

The University Disciplinary Panel is drawn from a pool of staff who have received training from an external specialist organisation in relation to sexual misconduct.  Panel members must complete this training before commencing their role along with completing the University’s Equality and Diversity Training. There is an annual training programme which allows panel members to reflect on cases over the previous year and to consider one or more elements of harassment and misconduct in depth at each session.

Working with External Partners and Information Sharing

Liverpool City Council

We work with the City Council through the Student Safety Group, and we sit on the City Safe Board to ensure that the needs of students are considered as part of the city-wide approach to safety planning.  As a result of this work a recent bid to the government’s safer streets fund included additional CCTV on routes identified as priorities by students.  Work is ongoing to improve further the safety of the night-time economy.  We have also worked with the Council to address anti-social behaviour in student areas including raising awareness amongst the student population of the potential implications for them of such behaviour including possible Student Conduct proceedings at the University, the potential for criminal charges through the police and landlords evicting students who persist with antisocial behaviour.

Police

In addition to their work as part of the Student Safety Group we work with the local police to address issues impacting on student safety on campus and in the wider community. We also have a dedicated Campus police liaison officer.  We have an information sharing agreement with the police to ensure relevant information is shared to maintain address safety issues which impact on individual students and the wider student community including the prevention and detection of crimes.

Accommodation Providers

Accommodation is a key part of the student experience.  We work with accommodation providers through Liverpool Student Homes to ensure properties are physically secure.  We also run awareness raising campaigns around crime prevention.  We are exploring approaches to information sharing in relation to student misconduct in accommodation and intend to develop consistent protocols with providers across the city.

Signposting and Advice

Student safety issues are among the many issues which may impact on students.  Clear information for staff and students is key to providing effective first responses and getting students to the appropriate source of support.  The Report and Support platform provides signposting information and advice for students and their supporters regarding a range of safety and conduct issues.  Student Services staff can also provide advice and guidance and signposting and referral to local specialist services.  The Guild Advice Service also provides signposting to students providing choice for students including those who may not wish to access University services.

Ensuring staff have access to the appropriate information to signpost students is critical. The Staff Hub includes the Student Services When to Refer Guide, an issue based guide for staff to enable them to support students effectively.  The Staff Hub also includes other resources to support staff such as the Responding to Disclosures Guide.  Key staff such as Learning and Teaching Support Officers, and Student Services staff will receive briefings about available support.

Staff training and support

There is a range of training available to support staff to respond to student safety issues.  A training matrix has been developed to accompany this strategy which sets out expected and optional training for different staff group.  This Matrix will be reviewed by the Board annually and updated as required. Staff are expected to complete this training.  

We will develop a Student Support training module for all student facing staff which will include information relating to student safety and will signpost staff to relevant additional resources and report on staff uptake.

Governance and Oversight

Safe and Welcoming Campus Board

The Safe and Welcoming Campus Board oversees activity in relation to student safety and creating a safe and welcoming campus.  The Board will support the development of an action plan which supports this strategy and they will keep this under review. 

The Board’s Forward Plan of meeting topics will identify key areas for discussion and will set out the schedule for receiving reports on activity.  Where appropriate the Board will forward reports to the Personal Success Board and/ or the Health and Safety Governance Committee and Council. These reports include:

  • Annual Safeguarding Report
  • Annual Prevent Report and OfS Prevent accountability return
  • Report and Support Annual Report
  • Student Conduct Annual Report

The Safe and Welcoming Campus Strategy is supported by the following policies:

  • Student Conduct Policy
  • Student Complaints Policy
  • Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
  • Drug and Alcohol Policy
  • Policy and Code of Practice Regarding Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom
  • Bullying and Harassment Policy
  • Fitness to Study and Engage in Student Experience
  • Personal Relationships Policy