Sexual harassment, misconduct and violence

UCL is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students. We are here to support you in whichever way you need.

Support and information on drink spiking

Drink spiking is a serious criminal offence which can sometimes coincide with incidents of sexual assault, harassment and/or misconduct.

As of 2025, spiking will carry its own legislation in a new separate law to increase the reporting of spiking, provide special training for hospitality staff and pose a stronger deterrent to violence against women and girls.

Please read our article 'Staying safe against drink spiking: Support and information' to learn about the definitions, symptoms, legislation and consequences of drink spiking. This article also explains the support available for victims of spiking at UCL and with our external partners.

Support for students affected by harassment and sexual misconduct

It can be difficult to know which actions to take following an incident/s, but it is important to know that you have a choice in how to proceed and that support is available to you. Please remember that this is not your fault, and you are not alone. You can find more information about the definitions of sexual assault, sexual harassment and misconduct here.

If you are in any immediate danger and on campus, you can call Security on +44 (0)20 7679 2222, (222 from an internal phone) or use the SafeZone app (press the blue button for Security).
If you are off campus, you can call 999.
We recommend that you download the SafeZone app. This a free-to-download application which enhances personal safety at UCL. In the event of an emergency, location and details can be quickly shared with Security, who will be able to give the right assistance.
If the incident/s have happened recently, you may want to find and visit a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). At a SARC, you can seek immediate advice, have a forensic examination and treatment (e.g. for STIs/pregnancy) and can often have samples taken without the pressure of deciding whether you yet want to report to the police.

We understand how difficult it can be to disclose an incident of sexual violence, and it may take a long time before you are able to seek support. There is no time limit on accessing support, either from UCL or from external services.

It is completely up to you whether you would like to report an incident to the Police. If you would like to report the incident to the police, read about how you can do this.

Support for students at UCL

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services can direct you to appropriate support both within and outside of UCL.

If you would like to speak to someone about how you are feeling, you can call the Student Support and Wellbeing Services Phone Line on +44 (0)20 3108 8836 during office hours.
For 24/7 support, you can call the UCL 24/7 Support Line on +44 (0) 808 238 0077 and speak with an adviser. If you are calling from outside the UK, you should call 00 353 1 518 0277.
If you would like to access some confidential support from the Disability and Neurodiversity or Mental Health and Wellbeing Team, you can book a same day appointment via askUCL. Our advisers are trained by Rape Crisis in how to have conversations around sexual misconduct.
You will be offered an appointment to discuss wellbeing support, whether you would like the incident/s to be investigated by the UCL Casework Team, and any support you may need to study such as academic adjustments. This appointment is confidential and is available to all students. You can request that your adviser is male, female or non-binary, and to request support from an adviser who can speak in your preferred language (this may involve a slightly longer waiting time).
Your adviser can also help you to meet with UCL's Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Office; they can offer advice and also support you if you wish to report to the Police.
You can also report via the UCL Report + Support tool; you can report anonymously if you wish. The UCL casework team and dignity advisers will provide support on how UCL can take the incident forward.

Staff across Student Support and Wellbeing Services, Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Advice and Casework are trained to handle sensitive disclosures, including sexual violence.

If you would like to access counselling, you can register with Counselling Services. You can access further support from external organisations specialising in sexual violation.

Support available from Rape Crisis

On your request, Student Support and Wellbeing Services can also arrange for students aged 16 and over to meet with a specialist adviser from Rape Crisis.

Rape Crisis is an organisation providing specialist, independent, and confidential services for anyone who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other kind of sexual violence or abuse – no matter when or where it happened. They also run a 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line - you can call free on 0808 500 2222.

Referrals information

Rape Crisis can usually contact a student within one week of referral. Sometimes, in the event of sickness or annual leave, this can be longer. However, the referrer should receive an automated reply to let them know when staff will be returning.

How to refer

There are two methods of being referred to Rape Crisis:

Student Support and Wellbeing Services staff member can refer you. You can book an appointment with a Disability Adviser or Mental Health Adviser via askUCL by selecting 'Contact Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing' under 'Critical FAQs'. To meet with your Student Adviser, select 'Contact My Student Adviser' under 'Life at UCL' on askUCL. For six sessions of therapy, you can register for counselling with the Counselling team. We will not refer you to Rape Crisis without your consent to do so.
You can self refer by sending an email to university.support@rasasc.org.uk. You do not have to disclose why you need a referral in this email. All you need to state is that you are a UCL student requesting a referral with Rape Crisis, and you will be referred.

Appointments and support sessions

The Rape Crisis Adviser can see you for a one-to-one 50-minute appointment, or for several sessions. Rape Crisis are generally able to offer a student a first session in the 1–2 weeks following initial contact. If the time offer does not suit the student, Rape Crisis can agree on a session further in the future.

The appointment will not be counselling, but an opportunity to talk about the impact that the incident has had on you. You can talk about your options and the process of reporting to the police with the adviser if you wish to do so. This appointment is confidential within the Rape Crisis service and no information is shared with UCL.

The student can access up to three support sessions with an Outreach worker and can space these out however they would like. In addition to the three Outreach sessions, students can access six short-term support sessions with a counsellor. If the person making the referral knows that the student would benefit from this, they are welcome to put this in the initial email. However, in the Outreach sessions, Rape Crisis will also explore this with the student.

You can also find out about further support provided by Rape Crisis. Engaging with further support or reporting the incident remains your decision, and meeting with the Adviser does not mean you are obliged to take things further if you do not wish to do so.

Other external support options

Survivors UK: Survivors UK provides counselling, therapy and online support for male, trans and non-binary students and those who have identified as make in the past and experience sexual violence or abuse. You can speak to a trained adviser in confidence via SMS text or via individual web chat.
Mankind: Mankind offers help for men who have suffered from unwanted sexual experience and offers counselling, therapy groups and self-help resources.
London Survivors Gateway: London Survivors Gateway is open to survivors of any gender who are aged 13 and above and live, work, or study in London. The Gateway connects those who have survived any form of sexual violence at any point in their lives with specialist support services. Their website also includes a detailed list and map of specialist services available to survivors in each of the London boroughs.
Galop: Galop provides advocacy, advice and emotional support for those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans, and have been affected by hate crime, sexual violence, domestic abuse, or issues with the police.
Imkaan: Imkaan is the only UK-based umbrella women’s organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls. They provide information about specialist by and for Black and minoritised women in London and the UK.
Refuge: Refuge is a domestic abuse charity with a wealth of information about domestic abuse, spotting the signs, and support services, including 24-hour phone support through the National Domestic Abuse helpline.
The Revenge Porn Helpline: The Revenge Porn Helpline supports those aged 18 and over in the UK who are experiencing image-based abuse, also known as revenge porn. They can provide confidential advice on reporting to social media platforms or the police, help with the reporting and removal of content, and signposting towards legal advice.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust: The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is a personal safety charity and supports people dealing with stalking and harassment. The National Stalking Helpline was set up by the Trust in 2010. It has helped over 65,000 victims since its inception and is the only service of its kind globally.
The My Body Back Project: The My Body Back Project offers cervical screening, contraceptive care, STI testing and maternity care for survivors of sexual violence.
Safeline: Safeline is a specialist sexual violence and abuse charity which offers counselling and therapy, independent sexual violence advocates and an online self-guided help programme.
Respond: Respond provide support for people with learning differences and autism who are affected by abuse and trauma. This can include specialist sexual violence advocacy and psychological support.
Mosac: Mosac provide information for mothers of children who have been sexually abused.
NSPCC: NSPCC provides Childline, a 24-hour service which provides counselling, information, and advice to children or young people.
Rights of Women: Rights of Women is a charity that provides free confidential legal advice and information to women on the law in England and Wales with a specific focus on violence against women and girls

How to report harassment and sexual misconduct

If the incident is happening now or has recently happened you can call 999. If you would like to report the incident to the police, read about how you can do this.
If the incident/s have happened recently, you may want to find and visit a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). At a SARC, you can seek immediate advice, have a forensic examination and treatment (e.g. for STIs/pregnancy) and can often have samples taken without the pressure of deciding whether you yet want to report to the police.
You can also report via the UCL Report + Support tool; you can report anonymously if you wish. The UCL casework team and dignity advisers will provide support on how UCL can take the incident forward.
UCL's Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Office can support you if you wish to report to the Police.
There is no time limit on reporting one or multiple incidents, either to UCL or external services.

Where can I find out more?

We would encourage you to read through the Report + Support webpage for further information.

You can contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services via askUCL or on +44 (0)20 3108 8836 during office hours.