What is sexual misconduct?

This includes suggestive looks, staring or leering which, on an objective basis, has the intention or effect of causing discomfort or distress.

Making unwanted remarks or gestures of a sexual nature (spoken, visual or written), either in person or via phone or digital media e.g. asking personal questions about sexual matters, discussing your own sex life, making sexual comments about a person’s body, making remarks implying a person’s sexual preferences or behaviours, spreading rumours about another person’s sex life, where there is no reasonable belief that such actions were wanted.

Making sexual advances, physical or otherwise, where there is no reasonable belief that such actions were wanted.

• Storing, viewing or sharing sexually explicit or pornographic material on University IT equipment.
• Displaying sexually graphic text, pictures, posters, photos or video (physically or via digital media), or allowing such material to be seen by another person in a way which is unwanted, on University premises, in University accommodation or via University IT systems.

Unwanted touching in what may reasonably be perceived to be an intentional and sexual manner (e.g. touching a person’s clothes, hair or body; standing too close to a person; rubbing or brushing up against them).

Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which, on an objective basis, creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person or persons

Distributing or exhibiting private and personal explicit/intimate images or video footage of an individual (including ‘deep-fake’ generated images which purport to show an individual) without their consent; and/or Image-based sexual abuse: (also known as ‘revenge pornography’) recording or sharing sexual or intimate photos, videos, recordings or other materials, without the consent of the person captured.

Creating, sharing, storing or viewing illegal online, recorded or hard copy sexual content e.g. indecent images of children (on any device or in any location, whether or not linked to the University).

Filming or photographing under a person’s clothes without their consent to capture images of their body or underwear; and/or voyeurism: observing another person who is naked or doing a private act without their consent for the purposes of sexual gratification, whether or not equipment is used to record the observation.

Inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person(s), or inappropriately allowing sexual organs to be seen by them (in person or via digital media).

Non-consensual touching of another person’s intimate areas (genitalia, breasts, buttocks), non-consensual touching of another person with your own genitalia, breasts or buttocks or coercing a person to non-consensually touch either their own intimate areas or those of yourself or a third party.

Stalking persistent, unwanted communication or behaviour which has the purpose or effect of frightening, intimidating or harassing someone, such as repeatedly following them, where there is an apparent sexual/romantic motivation.

Cyberstalking: repeated and deliberate use of the internet and other electronic communication tools to engage in persistent, unwanted communication or surveillance which has the purpose or effect of frightening, intimidating or harassing someone.

Retaliation: taking any adverse actions against another person, including, but not limited to, harassment, threats, intimidation or coercion, made in response to someone disclosing or reporting any form of sexual misconduct.

Relationship abuse: any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those who are, or have been, intimate partners; this may include psychological, physical, sexual, financial and/or emotional abuse.

Engaging, or attempting to engage, in a sexual act with another person (sexual acts are defined as including, but not limited to, cunnilingus, fellatio and masturbation), without their consent.

Engaging, or attempting to engage, in sexual intercourse (involving penetration of the mouth, vagina or anus with a body part or object) with another person, without their consent.