Sexual harassment is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of:
- violating your dignity
- makes you feel intimidated, embarrassed, degraded, or humiliated
- creates a hostile or offensive environment
as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
The unwanted sexual conduct can occur in person, online or over the phone. It does not need to be sexually motivated, only sexual in nature, to be considered sexual harassment.
You don’t need to have previously objected to someone's behaviour for it to be considered unwanted. It does not matter if others think the behavior is common.
Some forms of sexual harassment are automatically criminal offences for example such stalking, indecent exposure, and ‘upskirting’.
Sexual harassment is not ok and is never your fault.
You can report an incident of sexual harassment and find out how to get support via Report and Support.
For more information, please see these FAQ's:
What should I do in an emergency situation?
How do I report a crime to the police?
What is sexual consent?
What is Report and Support?
How do I make a report of a student’s unacceptable behaviour or conduct?
