Misconduct Report Guide

• Reporting Student: The person who is making the report.
• Reported Student: The person that the report is about.
• Witnesses: Any person who has witnessed the alleged incident
• Bystanders: Anyone who was a bystander and willing to report on the alleged incident

Yes. Our Student Support and Wellbeing Team offers confidential help to:

• Reporting students
• Reported students
• Witnesses
• Friends supporting someone involved

Help is available from our Health & Wellbeing Advisers on request. To access our Health and Wellbeing Support Team, please use our referral form. We can also refer you to external support if needed.

Try to report concerns within 3 months, this helps make investigation easier and clearer, but:

• We know it can take time
• Reports are always considered, even if made later.

What happens after a report?

1. The Safeguarding Approach:

• A DSO/SVLO considers your safety and offers support.
• Appropriate safeguarding actions are identified.
• Information of the case is shared on a need-to-know basis with the appropriate people.

2. The Quality Team ‘Fact-Find’

The Quality Team gathers information to understand what has happened. They may:

• Speak with the reporting and reported students.
• Speak with witnesses and bystanders, where appropriate.
• Collect relevant evidence, such as screenshots, messages and emails.
• Clarify the circumstances and establish the facts.

To note: Your safeguarding support and a possible risk assessment will be initiated immediately, whether or not the fact-finding process is completed at this time.

Usually, yes. It helps make sure your side is fully understood.

However, if you’d rather only use your written report, that’s okay too, however this needs to be factual and date/time stamped.

You can suggest people (students, staff, or others) who were witnesses to events/behaviours or who have their own observations of the events that occurred.

• Always ask them if they’re okay with being contacted in writing.
• No parties can contact the Investigator. Investigators or the Quality Team will initiate all contact and arrange meetings.

For fairness and equality, both the reporting and reported parties must know what’s being said as part of the investigation, however not witnesses, bystanders or any other person. That includes:

• The names of people involved
• Evidence like messages or screenshots

Before anything is shared, you’ll get to review your statement and ask for anything to be taken out, and this applies to all parties involved within the investigation.

Not automatically. This does depend on the nature of the investigation, and all investigations are approached restoratively where possible. The Investigator will work with the Quality Team to complete a risk assessment and will look at:

• Whether both students can continue safely
• If changes (like different class times, or modules) can help
• If appropriate and students consent, a referral into Student Support and Wellbeing

Suspension only happens if safety is at risk. It does not mean someone is guilty.

Should the Investigator feel the complaint is more serious and requires further review after investigation:

• All statements and evidence go to the Disciplinary Panel for review
• You can attend and speak, but don’t have to

The panel decides if it’s more likely than not that the behaviour happened (this is called “balance of probabilities”). On completion of this Disciplinary Panel, as with the ‘When Will I Know the Outcome’ section, students will be notified of the outcome within 10 working days following the Disciplinary Panel.

The process usually takes up to 3 months; sometimes this can take up to 6 months, with more complex complaints/investigation. You’ll be informed of the outcome within 10 working days, upon completion of our investigation. There are 3 potential outcomes:

• Not Upheld – the complaint has been investigated; however the findings did not support the complaint.
• Partially upheld – some aspects of the complaint were found to be valid, others did not support the complaint
• Upheld – the complaint has been investigated, and the findings did support the complaint.

Only reported students can appeal if:

• They think the outcome was too harsh
• They have new evidence
• Something went wrong in the process

Reporting students cannot appeal the outcome, but they can make a complaint about how the process was handled.

You can report to:

• The Police
• University Centre Leeds
• Or both

If police are involved, we’ll pause our process until they finish. This prevents confusion and stress.

Be there for them, and:

• Encourage them to speak to a member of staff
• Keep things private, don’t discuss it with others

Talking to Safeguarding and the Health and Wellbeing Team is always safe—they follow confidentiality rules.