If you have been the victim of sexual violence, you may be feeling many things.
However, you are feeling, try to remember that this is not your fault, you are not to blame, and you are not alone.
This information tells you how to stay safe and get support. It is also available to download or as a pocket card from the Student Centre, Students Union and Halls of Residence.
Are you Safe?
If a sexual assault has just occurred, you might want to consider whether you feel safe where you are. If you don’t feel immediately at risk, make sure you are somewhere safe and warm as you might be in shock.
If you are able to, phone a friend or someone you trust to come to you.
Emergency Help
- If you or others feel at risk or consider the situation to be an emergency, you can call the Police.
- If you need urgent medical care or attention, call an ambulance, or go straight to your nearest Accident and Emergency department.
- If you are in LSBU Halls of Residence, and you want help you can contact any member of Halls Staff or call Security.
Please be aware, if you speak to a member of LSBU staff, they will need to report what has happened.
Your Feelings
It’s very common for a sexual violence to leave you with strong emotions.
Some people report that they feel numb or shocked, confused or frightened, or fragile or angry.
There is no right or wrong way to feel.
No matter how bad you feel right now, it’s important to remember that you weren’t to blame for what happened.
Take care of yourself
- Talk it over with someone you trust when you feel ready to do so and remember that getting upset when you talk is ok.
- Try to get back to your usual routine, and take care of yourself by eating regular meals and taking some kind of exercise – it can lift your mood and help you to sleep.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol – this can numb difficult feelings but can stop you from coming to terms with what has happened.
For more information about taking care of yourself
Deciding what to do next
Do not feel under any pressure to act in any specific way. It is up to you to choose what kind of support you want to access and whether or not you want to report the assault to the Police or LSBU.
You can also choose to do nothing now if you feel that it would be useful for you.
Take the time to think about the options open to you.
Reporting to LSBU
By reporting an incident to the University you are not committing yourself to any particular course of action – we will be guided by you. You do not have to rush into any decisions. You can report an incident via Report and Support, and request support - you will then be contacted by an advisor.
Reporting to LSBU
By reporting an incident to the University you are not committing yourself to any particular course of action – we will be guided by you. You do not have to rush into any decisions. You can report an incident via Report and Support, and request support - you will then be contacted by an advisor.
You may wish to complete a Disciplinary Incident form so that the University can investigate the behaviour/ actions of another student as a breach of the Disciplinary Code. You can do this by completing a Disciplinary Incident Report form and emailing it to studisc@lsbu.ac.uk. The procedure can be found here
Reporting to the Police
There is no time limit on reporting sexual violence; you can go to the police at any time after the crime has taken place. However, if the incident happened recently there may be evidence such as DNA that would be useful to an investigation, which can be gathered at a Sexual Assault Referral Centre called The Havens. The Metropolitan Police website provides further information on reporting to the police: https://www.met.police.uk/
If you are thinking of reporting to the police, you can access confidential support from an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA). ISVAs are independent from the police, and can provide practical and emotional support, helping you to make informed decisions
You can refer for ISVA support via the following –
You are not alone
The choices you have in terms of expert support and advice can vary.
You can seek advice from a number of agencies, at any time after the incident, even years later - support is not limited to those who choose to make an immediate report.