Any form of assault is never okay. We condemn unacceptable behaviour, including all assault, harassment and hate crime.
What is assault?
There are different types of assault, including verbal and physical assault which are outlined below. For information on sexual assault, please visit our sexual misconduct and assault pages.
Verbal assault
Verbal assault makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting language with the intention of causing someone else harassment, alarm or distress.
Physical assault
Is an assault is any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer or apprehend immediate unlawful violence. The term assault is often used to include a battery, which is committed by the intentional or reckless application of unlawful force to another person.
There are different types of assault, including verbal and physical assault which are outlined below. For information on sexual assault, please visit our sexual misconduct and assault pages.
Verbal assault
Verbal assault makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting language with the intention of causing someone else harassment, alarm or distress.
Physical assault
Is an assault is any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer or apprehend immediate unlawful violence. The term assault is often used to include a battery, which is committed by the intentional or reckless application of unlawful force to another person.
What is hate crime?
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 disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity.
Examples of hate crime include, but are not limited to:
- physical assault
- verbal abuse, threats or name calling
- incitement to hatred, when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hated. This could be in words, pictures, videos, music and includes information on websites.
What can you do?
Think
- Are they in immediate danger? If they are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
- Are they in immediate danger? If they are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere they feel safe.
- What is assault? It might be useful to think about what assault is and how some of the behaviours are described.
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively you make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area.
Help them report - If they want to, and you feel able to, you can help them report the incident or incidents via GSA’s Report and Support tool.
GSA Procedure. If they choose to make a formal complaint to the GSA about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps they will need to follow.
There will be limits to GSA's ability to progress reports that involve criminal activity and we would always encourage and support Police involvement.
GSA Procedure. If they choose to make a formal complaint to the GSA about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps they will need to follow.
There will be limits to GSA's ability to progress reports that involve criminal activity and we would always encourage and support Police involvement.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage them to reach out to such support. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, visit the Support section on 'Sexual Misconduct + Assault' for more information and support resources.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the GSA's Counselling Service offers confidential help to students. Register online via: https://live.uniticms.com/gsamhw/ to request a counselling appointment.
If you are in immediate danger or are seriously injured, please call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
If you need immediate support or feel in crisis, we have listed several emergency services contact details on GSA's external website that you may find helpful.
Students can access information on GSA's student services here
Staff can access information on GSA staff services here
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the GSA's Counselling Service offers confidential help to students. Register online via: https://live.uniticms.com/gsamhw/ to request a counselling appointment.
If you are in immediate danger or are seriously injured, please call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
If you need immediate support or feel in crisis, we have listed several emergency services contact details on GSA's external website that you may find helpful.
Students can access information on GSA's student services here
Staff can access information on GSA staff services here