What happens when I submit a report?
All reports made to Report + Support are confidential and accessed by The Equally Safe Team and The Intercultural & Anti-Discrimination Team. If you submit a report and give your name and contact details, a member of the team will aim to contact you within 2 working day to acknowledge the report, check how you are and discuss the options and support available to you. This is not a formal report/complaint to the Student Conduct Team.
Can I submit a report anonymously?
The University respects your decision to share your experience anonymously. These reports cannot be traced to you unless you share identifiable information in the body of your report. In most cases, we may not be able to progress anonymous reports. However, anonymous reports can help us to understand the issues affecting our community and inform how the University can respond to support students and staff. Exceptionally, if your anonymous report raises serious concerns about safety, then the University may conduct an environmental investigation to assess risk and protect the safety of others. An environmental investigation will involve speaking to staff and/or students in the local area where concerns have been raised and identifying targeted support and interventions to reduce risk.
Can the University support me to report to The Police?
The Equally Safe Team and the Intercultural & Anti-Discrimination Team will respect the decision you make whether you choose to report any incidents to the Police, or choose not to take any further formal action at this stage. This is entirely your decision to make. If you decide you would like to speak to the police, we can support you to do so. You may also wish to report anonymously to Crimestoppers.
How do I make a formal report to the University?
Information on Student Conduct procedures can be found here. You can explore this option with the Equally Safe Team, the Intercultural & Anti-Discrimination Team or the Advice Place.
If you wish to raise a complaint against a University staff member, please see information here: Complaint Handling Procedure.
Is Report + Support the only way I can raise an issue?
No - you can raise an issue with any trusted member of staff such as your supervisor, school student support staff, The Advice Place, or with a trusted staff member where you are studying/living in student halls etc.
The University also has an Equally Safe Team. They can be contacted directly at equallysafeteam@ed.ac.uk and via the Report + Support Platform. We also have an Intercultural & Anti-Discrimination Team which comprises of a dedicated Intercultural & Anti-Discrimination Adviser. They can be contacted directly at studentreportandsupport@ed.ac.uk and via the Report + Support Platform.
These teams support those who are affected by any form of gender-based violence, and intercultural & anti-discrimination issues by providing practical and emotional support. This is individualised advice and support.
If you are living in a University run residence, you can raise issues with a Residence Life Assistant or Warden or the core Residence Life team.
If I submit a report do I have to meet someone in person? You do not have to meet in person - we can communicate with you through Microsoft Teams or by email.
Can I submit a report but later decide not to pursue it? The advice and support offered by these teams is confidential, at your pace and respectful of your decisions. However you can decline the support at anytime.
Will the report be on my student record? No, the report is confidential and separate to your student record.
Would you share the report with a funding body that supports me? No, we would not communicate with any external funding bodies or sponsors.
If I name someone in the report, will they be told that I have done this? No, submitting a report on Report + Support is not a formal complaint or a request for investigation; therefore the teams behind Report + Support do not inform others named in the report.
When I submit a report, how is my personal data stored? Please see our privacy policy here.
I really need help now - what can I do? If you feel in immediate danger, please call 999 immediately. For non emergency police support- call 101
You can also call University security if on campus on 0131 650 2257.