It can be very distressing if you have been accused of assault, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, or a hate crime.
All those involved in an investigation will be treated fairly and impartially and offered support.
The Investigating Officer will explain the process to you and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. You will be provided with the Investigating Officer’s contact details in case you have any further queries as the investigation progresses, and you will be provided with regular updates. You will have access to support from Student Support and Success, Mental Wellbeing and the Student Union.
An Investigating Officer will not act to prove or disprove any allegations that have been made. Their role is simply to acquire all relevant statements, evidence and facts relating to the case. They will take your statement and will also contact any witnesses that you may name who are relevant to the allegations. They will act in the same way towards the person who has made the allegations against you.
The investigation process is not a legal process, but instead is carried out under the University's policies and processes.
Once the Investigating Officer has gathered all of the evidence that is relevant, they will produce a report. You will have an opportunity to review and respond to the report before it is sent for a decision.
It’s good practice to take time to reflect about the other person’s perception of your behaviour. Even if you feel that your behaviour was well-intentioned, your words or actions may have hurt or offended another person, and this may be thought of as an opportunity for learning, or perhaps for a change of approach.
• Listen carefully to the complaint and to the particular concerns expressed.
• Stop the behaviour that’s been complained about straight away; if you are deemed to have bullied or harassed somebody after their objection to your behaviour was made known to you, this will be seen as a more serious issue.
• You are likely to need advice and support to understand the complaint: find a way to discuss the matter with someone you trust, such as a manager or tutor, or someone identified by them or Student Support and Success or HR to provide appropriate support.