Government statistics show that females aged between 16 and 19 are at the highest risk of
being a victim of a sexual offence (8.2%) with an increased risk of victimisation for full-time
students of 6.8%.84 EVAW highlights that this is also echoed in Rape Crisis service user data
for 2014–15, where roughly 28% of service users were in the 18–25 age bracket. In its own
survey conducted in 2012, EVAW found that 43% of young women (aged 18–24) in London
reported having experienced sexual harassment in public places in the previous year.
The law firm McAllister Olivarius frequently represents university students who have
experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, and believe that the UUK Taskforce
presents an opportunity to establish a ‘clear, enforceable framework for trying to decrease
the incidence of harassment and sexual violence at university’, as well as to help victims deal
with the psychological and emotional impact and to advise and support them in asserting
their legal rights.
A major challenge highlighted by McAllister Olivarius is the decentralised model of many UK
universities which can inhibit an effective and consistent cross-university response. This
distributed structure can mean it is difficult for a student to know where and who to report
to, and that the response a student receives may vary depending upon who has responsibility
for providing support to the student or who the student chooses to speak to. The role of the
police, and the importance of specialist education and training in relation to these crimes as
they affect young people, is also highlighted as a priority area for improvement.
The input of Rape Crisis highlights a number of important insights when considering how
the higher education sector can better respond to violence against women and sexual
harassment. Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) have reported a number of issues:
Limited understanding about sexual violence and the need for specialist support
services – the limited understanding by university staff, sometimes including welfare
staff, of sexual violence and the need for referral to independent specialist support
services. There does not always seem to be a clear understanding of the difference
between a Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) and a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)85
and some institutions have policies that their own welfare advisors will carry out the
support work rather than make a referral. This may not be appropriate where there
has not been specialist training for staff.
Inconsistency of institutional approach and response – evidence from RCCs
indicate inconsistent responses between and within institutions, with responses to
sexual violence often based on how a particular staff member handles the situation.
There is also inconsistency across the sector in the engagement that universities have
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214970/sexual-offendingoverview-jan-2013.pdf. Based on analysis of survey data over three years from 2009–10 to 2011–12.
85 Rape Crisis Centres (RCC) provide free, confidential specialist help for women and girls who have been
raped or experienced any other form of sexual violence. Its services are for women of all ages and girls over
14. Services include emotional and practical support, one-to-one counselling, group support and advocacy.
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is a special facility where recent victims of rape or sexual assault can
receive immediate help and support. This includes access to a forensic medical examination, which is carried out
by an experienced and qualified doctor, and the opportunity to speak to the police about what has happened to
them if the client wishes to do so. Crisis Workers are also on hand to support them and stay with them
throughout the process.
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