If you believe you or others are at risk and need emergency help, call the police or ambulance service on 999. You can also contact our 24hr Security team if you are on campus by calling 01707 28 1010. 

 

If you have experienced any form of sexual violence, we understand how scared and confused you might be, but you do not have to cope alone.  You can talk in confidence to one of our fully trained University staff or go direct to an external service if you prefer. 
 
What you decide to do next is completely up to you, so take your time to think things through and read through this page carefully. Try to be somewhere that feels safe, keep warm in case you're in shock and ask a friend or someone you can trust to be with you. If you don’t feel like talking to a friend or family member yet, you can call the Rape Crisis National Helpline on 0808 802 9999.

 

If you do decide to report to the police, or if you want to make a self-referral for a forensic medical examination at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) while you make up your mind, time is an important consideration.  Try, if possible, to take these steps:

 

·        Do not wash

·        Do not brush your teeth

·        Do not have a cigarette

·        Do not eat or drink

·        Do not change your clothes

·        If you do change your clothes, do not wash them and put them in a clean bag

·        Try not to go to the toilet

·        Do not clear up anything from the area of the incident

 

Don’t worry if you have already done some of these things, it’s still possible there’s forensic evidence to collect.

 

 

·        Student Support and Welfare. The team work 24/7 and are there to support you in an emergency situation. Out of hours, you can contact the team by calling Security on 01707 28 1010. They can talk you through the options available to you and support you in approaching external services or reporting to the police if this is something you decide to do. 

·        Security. Available 24 hrs on 01707 28 1010 or 1010/5555 on an internal phone. 

·        Herts SARC (Sexaul Assault Referral Centre) 0808 178 4448 or email herts.sarc@nhs.net. The SARC offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been sexually assaulted or raped. They have specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) and support workers to care for you. 

·        Police 999 (emergency) 101 (non-emergency). If you’d like to report online, rather than speaking to an officer by telephone in the first instance, you can do so securely and confidentially. 

 

·        Herts SARC (Sexaul Assault Referral Centre) 0808 178 4448 or email herts.sarc@nhs.net. The SARC offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been sexually assaulted or raped. They have specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) and support workers to care for you. 

·        Police 999 (emergency) 101 (non-emergency). If you’d like to report online, rather than speaking to an officer by telephone in the first instance, you can do so securely and confidentially.

 

·        Student Support Advisor (EDI and Sexual Violence): contact via studentwellbeing@herts.ac.uk or via deanofstudents@herts.ac.uk 

·        Student Support and Welfare (on or off campus student support) If you are living in University accomodation and need assistance, help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also have a dedicated Community Liaison and Support Officer who is responsible for the welfare, discipline and pastoral care for students living in privately rented accomodation, off campus.

 

All of the University teams above will talk you through the options available to you and support you through approaching external services, or reporting to the Police or Student Disciplinary procedures if this is something you decide to do. 

 

·        Herts SARC (Sexaul Assault Referral Centre) 0808 178 4448 or email herts.sarc@nhs.net. The SARC offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been sexually assaulted or raped. They have specially trained Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNE) and support workers to care for you.

·        Hatfield Sexual Health Clinic. Open Monday-Friday at the Hatfield Centre, Queensway, Hatfield, tel: 0300 008 5522. You can access STI testing, emergency contraception and crisis support here. 

·        Police 999 (emergency) 101 (non-emergency). If you’d like to report online, rather than speaking to an officer by telephone in the first instance, you can do so securely and confidentially.

·        The National Male Survivor Helpline: 0808 800 5005

·        Rape Crisis National Helpline: 0808 802 9999