King’s is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all members of our community. This means protecting our students, staff and visitors both on our campuses and in our digital spaces from the following unacceptable behaviours:
- bullying
- harassment
- sexual misconduct, and
- restriction of free speech or academic freedom.
These behaviours undermine our values and what we stand for as a university. Together with members of our community and our staff and students’ unions, we are working hard to prevent and address them.
Our Community Charter sets out how everyone at King’s can contribute positively to developing and maintaining a thriving community.
This page sets out our policies, procedures, training, reporting mechanisms and support services designed to prevent and address unacceptable behaviours at King’s.
Reporting
Anyone in our community who experiences bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct or restriction of free speech or academic freedom can use Report + Support to report these incidents.
Report + Support is available to students, staff and visitors to the University. Reports can be made anonymously or include contact details, with three options for:
- support only
- support and informal action
- support and a formal investigation.
Support
Bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct can cause humiliation, isolation, loss of confidence and serious harm to mental health and wellbeing in both the short and longer term.
A range of support and advice services are available to members of our community who have experienced, witnessed or been accused of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct.
Support for students
In an emergency situation where there is a risk of serious harm, call 999 or go to the closest Accident and Emergency (A&E Department).
Find urgent crisis and mental health support.
The following Report + Support articles provide information about the support available to students affected by bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct:
Students can also find additional support articles covering a range of topics on Report + Support.
The following articles on Student Services Online also provide a range of helpful information:
- I'm a parent, guardian or other supporter of a current King's student, what support can they access?
The King's College London Students' Union (KCLSU) Advice service can provide confidential and impartial advice to King's students about reporting bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct, or about what to do if they have been reported. If a student's academic work has been affected, KCLSU Advice can also support them to inform the University.
Find out more about Help & Advice on the KCLSU website and in our Student Services Online article What does KCLSU offer to support my wellbeing?
Support for staff
In an emergency situation where there is a risk of serious harm, call 999 or go to the closest Accident and Emergency (A&E Department).
The following Report + Support articles provide information about the support available to staff affected by bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct:
Staff can search 'Dignity at King's' on our intranet for more information.
King’s provides all staff with access to a free service, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which offers confidential advice and counselling on a wide range of work and personal issues. The EAP service is delivered by Vita Health Group and is independent from the University. Any personal information shared is at the user's discretion and appropriate to their need.
Staff can search 'EAP' on our intranet for information on our Employee Assistance Programme.
Policies and procedures
- Our Dignity at King’s Prevention of Bullying & Harassment policy outlines the University’s commitment to preventing and effectively addressing bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct, helping to create a culture where everyone is valued and supported to succeed.
- Report + Support is our online system for reporting bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. Reports can be made anonymously or with contact details for further support.
- Our Joint Statement on Freedom of Expression with KCLSU provides more information on our shared commitment to free speech and academic freedom.
- We have also signed a pledge endorsed by the Department for Education to stop using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in any complaints about bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct or other forms of inappropriate behaviour.
- Our Relationships between Staff and Students policy outlines the responsibilities of all parties in respect to personal relationships.
You can find the latest versions of our policies on our policy updates webpage. A full directory of all our policies, including those relating to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct is on our Policy Hub webpages.
Training
Training available for students
We expect all our students to complete the Keeping Each Other Safe online courses every year during their time with us, unless they’re eligible to opt-out (for example, as a survivor of sexual assault). This training is accessed through our Student Records system and is part of annual enrolment and re-enrolment.
These courses help build the participant’s understanding of the laws and responsibilities surrounding bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and freedom of expression; promote effective communication and respectful relationships; and empower students to be active bystanders.
More information about the 'Keeping Each Other Safe' courses is available on Student Services Online.
How we train our staff
Essential training
All King's staff are required to take annual training in the prevention of sexual misconduct.
This training is available on our Workrite online learning platform (login required)
Additional training
We encourage all our staff to complete additional training on the prevention of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. Our Keeping Each Other Safe (staff) online modules cover topics including:
- Freedom of expression
- How to respond when you receive a disclosure of bullying, harassment and/or sexual misconduct.
- The laws and our responsibilities connected to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct
- Building a safe and inclusive community.
Our Keeping Each Other Safe (staff) modules will be available online from 1 August 2025.
We also offer our staff Active Bystander training, provided by our Organisational Development team. Staff can search 'Active Bystander' on our intranet for more information.
Line managers and staff who support investigations into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct work closely with our Human Resources Business Partners, who offer toolkits and training in how to run an effective investigation. Staff can search 'workplace investigations' on our intranet for more information.
Partner organisations
Our partnerships seek to broaden our impact and expand opportunities for communities locally, nationally and across the world. Working closely with our partner providers, King’s is committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and safe environment for all members of our community.
The following statement can be incorporated into King’s partnership agreements from 1 August 2025:
King’s believes that all individuals have the right to work, learn, study, and live in an environment free from bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct. We maintain a single, comprehensive and publicly accessible source of information outlining our policies and procedures in this area in line with the Office for Students (OfS) Condition E6. This can be accessed at: www.kcl.ac.uk/about/bullying-harassment-and-sexual-misconduct .
If any incidents occur while on a placement, our community are encouraged to seek support through our Report + Support platform. King’s expects all partner providers to uphold equivalent standards, ensuring that robust mechanisms are in place to prevent and respond to bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct. This includes maintaining clear policies, accessible reporting routes and appropriate support structures in line with the expectations of the OfS and our shared commitment to student safety and wellbeing. For King’s colleagues seeking to establish new partnership agreements or renew existing relationships, please visit our Legal Services intranet page for further guidance on how to ensure compliance with these expectations.
This webpage is the single comprehensive source of information required by the Office for Students (OfS Condition of Registration E6), the independent regulator of higher education in England.