If you have experienced or witnessed any type of sexual misconduct, harassment or incidents because of your race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, faith or any other reason, you can access information and support via our online support service.
Please note this is not the formal complaints system.
You can submit a report anonymously or contact an advisor through our online form or by emailing harassment@coventry.ac.uk.
What is a hate crime/incident?
A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. This may be based on a person's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender reassignment or perception of any of these characteristics.
Hate incidents is behaviour motivated by prejudice or intolerance that are not currently criminal offences. These incidents can still be harmful and can include bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.
The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sex, age, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, in addition to those listed above.
Harassment/hate crime/incidents can take many forms and can have a significant negative impact on an individual and the wider university community.
Reporting these incidents, anonymously or not, can help to identify themes, challenge harmful conduct and create a safer environment for all.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature and can involve online and verbal comments, gestures or physical touching/assault. It can violate your dignity, make you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated and creates a hostile or offensive environment.
Incidents can still be considered sexual harassment even if the alleged harasser didn't intend this.
Sexual harassment doesn't have to be intentionally directed at a specific person; it can be a one-off incident or ongoing and is never acceptable.
What is spiking?
Spiking is the addition of drugs or alcohol into another person’s drink or body without consent. This can also present as ‘needle spiking’; injecting someone.
It can be done for many reasons and can happen to anyone by anyone.
Symptoms can be difficult to spot, but if you feel more drunk or strange than you think you should be, seek support straight away.
What is bullying and harassment?
Bullying and harassment is any unwanted behaviour that makes someone feel distressed, intimidated, degraded, humiliated or offended. It is not always obvious or apparent to others and may interfere with an individual’s learning, working or social environment.
Bullying and harassment is never acceptable behaviour. Reporting it, whether anonymously or not, can help to alter this behaviour and make the university safer for all.
Bullying and harassment can be between two individuals or may involve groups of people and can also occur in written communications, online, by phone or email, not just face-to-face.
Bullying and harassment can take many forms and/or be related to a protected characteristic as detailed above.
Our commitment to Hate Crime/Incident Awareness
Please be aware some of the information on this page may be upsetting or triggering; if you feel distressed at any time, please stop reading and seek support.
Anyone can be a victim of a harassment or hate incident - find out how to report an incident to gain support.
This page aims to provide our communities with some recent context around the issues of hate crime/incidents and harassment and the impacts these incidents can have on individuals, as well as highlighting our regular awareness campaigns and activity.
Harassment and Incident Support monitors and tracks incidents across the group both on and off campus, recent and historic. We are committed to ensuring staff and student representation with key partnerships and networks to ensure your voices are heard.
Hate crime and harassment awareness in context
(Updated June 2026)
March 2025 data shows 115, 990 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales (excluding MPS). This was a 2% increase on the previous year.
Race continues to be the highest incident rate of the 5 centrally monitored strands recorded by police (71%) with a 6% increase this year and a 3% increase in religious hate crimes. (1)
Sex remains firmly on the universities’ agenda, now underpinned by OFS Condition of Registration (2) in August 2025, preceded by the Statement of Expectations publication in 2021. (3)
Notable advances saw the addition to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 of Non-Fatal Strangulation in 2022 added as an offence, recognising the unique risks associated with this form of domestic abuse. (4)
Spiking hit the headlines in 2021/22 and has seen a recent resurfacing of cases. Work was undertaken locally and nationally to address. (5 & 7)
Workers Protection Act came into force October 2024 putting responsibilities on workplaces to prevent sexual harassment (6)
Impact
As a service, we know that the effects of harassment and hate incidents can be long-lasting, and impact numerous areas of an individuals' or collectives' lives.
The staff and students we support can experience a whole range of impacts, ranging from nightmares, flashbacks, difficulties in relationships, PTSD and many others.
This is supported by research such as the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW: 2018-2020) found that hate crime victims were more likely than victims overall to say they were emotionally affected by the incident (96% and 83% respectively) and to say they were “very much” affected by the incident compared to non-hate crime victims (36% and 15% respectively).[11]
Our campaigns
October
Hate Crime Awareness Week
Our hate crime awareness activity seeks to raise awareness of the different protected characteristics and how they may experience harassment.
Each year we mark the week with a variety of stalls, social media campaigns and events, inviting key partner organisations to attend university in different formats to raise awareness, destigmatise and reduce barriers. We produced a short webinar exploring what happens when someone reports sexual misconduct and our MESARCH department in conjunction with local partners created a video for domestic abuse.
November
International ending violence against women and girls, 16 Days of activism
Our activity for this period seeks to raise awareness of the different types of gender-based violence experienced.
Run in partnership with our local Domestic Abuse Champion Network, there are a variety of activities and social media campaigns marking different subject areas within this arena.
What happens when you get in touch?
We support staff and students that have experienced or witnessed any form of harassment or hate. It is a safe, confidential space to talk through your options with no pressure and help to navigate whatever route you decide to take or support you with where things are at currently. We sit within the Student Wellbeing department.
Harassment and Incident Support is entirely confidential unless express consent is given, or safeguarding needs arise. Even here, we will discuss and take you along with us.
Coventry University is unable to provide an emergency response service. For emergencies, please contact the police or ambulance service on 999.
Amber Taroni and Simi Shergill can be contacted via the online reporting system or harassment@coventry.ac.uk.
Our support workers are experienced in supporting those who have experienced harassment and hate across the protected characteristics with specialisms in the sex and race characteristics. They have a warm, friendly nature and are trauma informed and responsive.
Resources
Coventry University Bystander training
This online module aims to foster a safe, positive campus where all students feel able to achieve their very best educationally and also enjoy their university experience.
The module will explore what an active bystander is, how you can intervene (if it is safe to do so) and offers filed examples of the type of harassment/hate incidents that can occur. Once completed, you can fill out a feedback form and receive a certificate for your portfolios.
Our protection services and University PCSOs host regular roadshows and stalls around Coventry main campus with safety advice and equipment.
Download the Safezone app onto your phone for on campus emergencies.
We also have Spectrum life, 24/7 access to emotional and mental health support, free for Coventry University Group students.
Freephone UK: 0800 0318227, WhatsApp: Text ‘Hi’ to - 074 1836 0780 - International number: 00353 1 518 0277 (standard rates apply) or via their chat function on Spectrum.Life online portal</a.
Useful links
- Our Complaints Procedure
- Our Student Disciplinary Regulations (Appendix 7)
- Our Student Behaviour Code of Conduct
References
- Gov.uk. [ONLINE] [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- OfficeforStudents.org.uk. [ONLINE] [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- OfficeforStudents.org.uk. [ONLINE] [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- Gov.uk. [ONLINE] [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- Independent.co.uk. [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- Gov.uk. [Accessed 3 June 2026].
- RCEW Spiking [ONLINE] [Accessed 3 June 2026].
Support and Report
- Information on Making a Report - Detailed information on the case reporting process, what you need to include in a report, and further useful questions and answers.
- Student Wellbeing - Get information on the numerous student wellbeing services we have on campus across the group.
- Your Advice Centre - Learn about Your Student's Union Advice Centre.
- External Organisations - Discover external organisations that can help you if you've been a victim of crime.
This page and the online reporting system are a result of funding from HEFCE and are part of the University’s University Challenge project.
Contact Amber Taroni for more information.
