Dignity at Study

Harassment is unwanted conduct related to any student, including those with a protected characteristic under the equality Act 2010 which:

• has the purpose of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person; or
• is reasonably considered by that person to have the effect of violating their dignity or of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them even if this effect was not intended by the person responsible for the conduct.

Harassment can be directed at an individual or a group.

Bullying is characterized by offensive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour that constitutes an abuse or misuse of power. It is conduct that undermines, humiliates, or injures the person on the receiving end. Whether it takes the form of verbal, physical, or emotional mistreatment, bullying is harmful and unacceptable behaviour within our university community.

Victimisation occurs when someone is deliberately treated less favourably than others because they have raised a complaint, formally or informally, regarding bullying, harassment, or discrimination, or have supported someone else in doing so, or have provided evidence in relation to a complaint. This may include isolating the individual as a consequence of their complaint. For instance, if a student reports experiencing racism from another student in their course, and subsequently finds themselves ignored or ostracized by their peers, this would be considered victimization.

Discrimination refers to the unfair or unequal treatment of individuals or groups based on certain characteristics, such as race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or other protected characteristics.

Associated discrimination occurs when an individual faces direct discrimination or harassment due to their association with another individual who possesses a protected characteristic, excluding marriage and civil partnership. For instance, a student, whose child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, may be excluded from social activities organized by their peers out of concerns regarding the child's behaviour.

Perceptive discrimination, on the other hand, involves direct discrimination or harassment based on a perception that an individual possesses a particular protected characteristic, even if they do not actually possess that characteristic, excluding marriage and civil partnership. For example, a student may refuse to collaborate on a group assignment with another student based on the belief that the student is gay, regardless of the actual sexual orientation of the individual.

Sexual misconduct encompasses all forms of unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual harassment, as defined by Section 26(2) of the Equality Act 2010.
• Unwanted conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment, as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
• Assault, as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
• Rape, as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
• Physical unwanted sexual advances, as outlined by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in "Sexual Harassment and the Law" (2017).
• Intimidation, or the offering of resources or benefits in exchange for sexual favours, as outlined by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in "Sexual Harassment and the Law" (2017).
• Distributing private and personal explicit images or video footage of an individual without their consent, as defined by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

It's essential to recognise that any form of sexual misconduct is unacceptable and can have profound and lasting effects on the victim. Therefore, it is crucial to create a safe and supportive environment that promotes respect, dignity, and zero tolerance for such behaviours.

Hate crimes are criminal acts that are motivated by prejudice or hatred towards a particular group of people based on characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. These crimes can take various forms, including physical assault, verbal abuse, harassment, vandalism, or threats.

What distinguishes hate crimes from other criminal acts is the bias or prejudice underlying the perpetrator's actions. Hate crimes not only target individual victims but also aim to intimidate and terrorize entire communities based on their identity or perceived differences.

Hate crimes are considered particularly serious offenses and may carry harsher penalties than similar crimes committed without bias motivation.

The Students’ Union is a Hate Crime Reporting Centre and can be contacted by:

Tel: 01204 900850

Email: info@boltonsu.com

Advice on the Dignity at Study Policy and Procedure is available from the Life Lounge and Students’ Union.

Tel: 01204 903566

Email: lifelounge@bolton.ac.uk

Students can report an incident of harassment, bullying, discrimination, victimisation or sexual misconduct where the alleged perpetrator is a student, a member of staff, a visitor or a contractor appointed by the University i.e. another member of the university community by means of an online reporting form: here.

Useful Guides

Bullying Leaflet

Harassment Leaflet

Sexual Misconduct Leaflet

Sexual Consent Leaflet

Sexual Consent Training

Student Online Safety Leaflet

More Information and Advice

The University acknowledges that there are instances where students may prefer not to report an incident directly to the university but still require support. Below is a list of external organisations that students can contact for assistance: