Speak Out

If you’ve experienced or witnessed something that makes you feel uncomfortable or concerned, please report it to us. We can help you find the support you need. 

We are an inclusive community, where everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We will not tolerate any forms of harassment, bullying, intimidation or discrimination, including for example racism, sexism or homophobia.  

If you have witnessed or been affected by any of these on our campuses or in the wider community, please report it here. We can help you find the support you may need. 

These pages provide information for students and staff at Falmouth University, The University of Exeter, The Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union (the SU) and FX Plus. People living in our wider community of Falmouth, Penryn, Mabe and Truro can also report incidents here. 

Please report any incidents – no matter how small you think they are – so that we can support those who are affected, get a clear picture of what is happening in our community and take action where possible. 

How to report

If it is an emergency where life is threatened, people are injured or offenders are nearby and you need an urgent response, call 999. 

If you think what you have experienced may be a hate crime or hate incident, you should also report it to the police.  

A hate crime is any crime perceived to have been motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability, race, beliefs, gender or sexual identity, or any part of someone’s personal identity. Hate crimes can include things like being called names, sent offensive messages, being attacked or threatened with violence, or having your property damaged.  
We can’t report it to the police for you, but we can support you to do so. You can read more about hate crimes here.  

Find out how to report a hate crime to the police, or anonymously through a third party, on the Devon and Cornwall Police website 

Definitions

Exceptional cases 

In exceptional cases, where we become aware of concerns of very serious bullying or harassment, we may investigate the situation even if you decide not to make a formal complaint. This is in accordance with our duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff and students who may be affected by the alleged behaviour. Where there is found to be evidence of bullying and harassment then we may take action under the HR Disciplinary procedure or the Student Disciplinary procedure as appropriate. 

Training 

The University of Exeter’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team offer sessions on Hate Crime and Incident Reporting and Awareness. These are open to all our campus partners and available for both staff and student audiences.

For more information or to book a session, please email edi@exeter.ac.uk  

The Centre for Hate Studies at the University of Leicester also offers online training modules on responding to hate crime and extremism. Please click here to visit the website.