Understanding What Happens After You Submit a Report
Deciding whether to report a concern can feel like a significant step.
You may be:
- Seeking support for yourself.
- Reporting something that has happened to you.
- Concerned about another student.
- Concerned about a member of staff.
- Looking for advice.
- Unsure whether what happened is serious enough to report.
Many people worry about what will happen once they submit a report.
Understanding the process can help you make an informed decision and feel more confident about accessing support.
Why Report?
Report and Support exists to help create a safe, respectful and inclusive university community.
People use Report and Support for many different reasons, including:
- Seeking support.
- Reporting bullying or harassment.
- Reporting discrimination or hate incidents.
- Reporting sexual misconduct.
- Reporting safeguarding concerns.
- Reporting wellbeing concerns.
- Reporting inappropriate behaviour.
- Seeking advice about a situation.
You do not need to be certain that a policy has been breached before making a report.
If something has happened that concerns you, support is available.
What Happens When I Submit a Report?
When a report is submitted, it is received by appropriately trained university staff.
The report will be reviewed to understand:
- The nature of the concern.
- Whether there are any immediate risks.
- What support may be needed.
- Whether further information is required.
- Which university services may be able to help.
Every report is considered individually.
Will Someone Contact Me?
If you provide your contact details, a member of the relevant team may contact you to:
- Acknowledge your report.
- Check on your wellbeing.
- Understand your concerns.
- Discuss available support.
- Explore possible options.
The purpose of initial contact is usually to listen, understand and provide information.
It is not to pressure you into taking a particular course of action.
What If I Make an Anonymous Report?
The University offers opportunities to report concerns anonymously.
Anonymous reports can help the University:
- Understand emerging issues.
- Identify patterns or trends.
- Improve services.
- Inform prevention and awareness work.
However, anonymity can sometimes limit the University's ability to:
- Contact you.
- Clarify information.
- Offer direct support.
- Investigate concerns.
- Take specific action.
If you choose to remain anonymous, the information you provide may still help the University improve safety and support arrangements.
Will the Person I Reported Be Told?
Not necessarily.
Many people worry that submitting a report will automatically result in the other person being contacted immediately.
This is not usually the case.
Before any decisions are made, the University may need to:
- Understand the concern.
- Assess risks.
- Consider available options.
- Explore your wishes and feelings.
- Review relevant information.
The University's response will depend upon the circumstances of the case.
Will I Have Control Over What Happens?
Where possible, the University will seek to understand:
- What support you want.
- What outcomes you are hoping for.
- What concerns you may have.
- What options feel right for you.
Many reports result in supportive conversations and advice rather than formal action.
However, there may be situations where the University needs to act because:
- Someone may be at risk of serious harm.
- There are safeguarding concerns.
- Other people may be at risk.
- Legal or regulatory responsibilities apply.
If this is the case, staff will normally explain their reasoning and discuss this with you wherever possible.
What Support Might Be Available?
Depending on the circumstances, support may include:
- Safeguarding support.
- Wellbeing support.
- Mental health support.
- Academic support.
- Disability support.
- Financial support.
- Accommodation support.
- External specialist services.
The most appropriate support will depend on your individual circumstances and wishes.
What If I Am Reporting on Behalf of Someone Else?
Sometimes people submit reports because they are worried about:
- A friend.
- A flatmate.
- A colleague.
- A student.
- A member of staff.
You do not need to have all the answers before raising a concern.
Sharing information when you are genuinely worried about someone's safety or wellbeing can help the University identify support options and assess any risks.
Will the Police Be Contacted?
Not automatically.
Most reports do not result in police involvement.
The University will carefully consider:
- The nature of the concern.
- Any identified risks.
- The wishes of those involved.
- Legal and safeguarding responsibilities.
There may be circumstances where information needs to be shared because there is a serious risk of harm or a legal obligation to do so.
Such decisions are carefully considered and managed through the University's safeguarding and case management processes.
What If My Concern Is About Safety or Wellbeing?
Some reports involve concerns about:
- Mental health.
- Self-harm.
- Suicide risk.
- Domestic abuse.
- Exploitation.
- Abuse.
- Children or adults at risk.
In these situations, safeguarding professionals may become involved to assess risks and identify appropriate support.
The focus is usually on promoting safety, wellbeing and access to support.
What If I Change My Mind?
You may be unsure about what you want to happen when you first make a report.
That is okay.
Many people use initial conversations to:
- Understand their options.
- Ask questions.
- Explore support.
- Reflect on possible next steps.
Seeking advice does not automatically commit you to a formal process.
How Long Will It Take?
The time required to review and respond to a report will depend upon:
- The nature of the concern.
- Any immediate risks.
- The complexity of the situation.
- The information available.
Reports involving significant safety or safeguarding concerns will usually be prioritised.
What If I Need Immediate Help?
Report and Support is not an emergency service.
If there is:
- An immediate risk to life.
- A medical emergency.
- A serious incident occurring right now.
You should contact emergency services immediately.
You should also notify University Security or other emergency support services where appropriate.
What Happens to the Information I Share?
Information provided through Report and Support is handled sensitively and in accordance with the University's responsibilities.
Information will only be shared where there is a legitimate reason to do so, such as:
- Providing support.
- Managing risk.
- Meeting safeguarding responsibilities.
- Complying with legal obligations.
The University does not share information unnecessarily.
Key Message
Submitting a report does not automatically trigger a formal investigation, disciplinary action or police involvement.
Most reports begin with a conversation, an assessment of support needs and an exploration of available options.
Whether you are seeking support for yourself or raising concerns about someone else, Report and Support exists to help people access advice, support and appropriate interventions in a safe, respectful and supportive way.
If something does not feel right, it is usually better to reach out than to struggle alone.