You can report the incident to the police, or do nothing. You may be unsure what you want to do. Your safety and health are paramount and you may need medical treatment.
You have the option to attend a SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre). SARC is a specialist centre for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted, which provides forensic services, medical support, help and information. It’s essential to call ahead, which you can do yourself, or if you speak to a member of the welfare team, they can assist you in doing this. The SARC team will want as much information as possible in order to advise you. You don’t have to make a report to the police if you attend the SARC, you get to choose what happens next.
If you are in Oxford and require a taxi to attend a SARC, one can be arranged for you by the Lodge at no charge to you. This can be from College, from your off-site accommodation, from another College Lodge under the Safe Lodge Scheme or your location in Oxford City. The closest SARC is located in Bicester. If for any reason there is not capacity there, you would be directed to the next available SARC nearby.
You can report the incident to the police, or do nothing. You may be unsure what you want to do. Your safety and health are paramount and you may need medical treatment. Information and support is available from either the University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service or an external organisation. Talking to a specialist organisation may help you to understand your options.
The University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service offers free support and advice to any student affected by sexual harassment or violence, whether the experience happened in Oxford or elsewhere, recent or in the past. Contact an advisor at supportservice@admin.ox.ac.uk
The service is open throughout the academic year.
If you choose to report the incident to police, you can call 101 to report a crime that doesn’t require an emergency response.
Your safety and health are paramount and you may need medical treatment. You may have sustained physical injuries that require medical attention. It is also possible that no force was used which doesn’t mean it isn’t rape or sexual assault. You can go to the GP or to Accident and Emergency for medical help with physical injury. You do not have to explain the cause of your injuries if you don’t wish to, though it may help the medical staff to treat you.
Following rape or sexual assault, it is possible that you may have contracted a sexually transmitted infection. Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics can treat you in confidence and may not even share information with your GP if you don’t want.
Sexual Health Oxfordshire provide free sexual health screening (tests), treatment, contraception and advice. There are clinics across oxfordshire across Oxfordshire including in Oxford City. If you are away from Oxford, you can still find a clinic near you anywhere in the UK.
To report a rape or sexual assault when you don’t require an emergency response, you can call 101 police non-emergency to report a crime.
If you are unsure whether to report to police or would like information about what happens if you contact the police, you can speak in confidence to the University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service, or an external support service for information and support.
Talking to a specialist organisation may help you to understand your options.
The University Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service offers confidential support and information to any student affected by sexual harassment or violence, whether the experience happened in Oxford or elsewhere, recent or in the past.
The service is open throughout the academic year. Contact an advisor at supportservice@admin.ox.ac.uk
Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre – Women
Oxford-based information and support for women dealing with the effects of sexual abuse, assault or violence
Survivors UK
National organisation providing information and support to men dealing with the effects of sexual abuse, assault or violence
Rape Crisis UK – Women
National organisation providing information and support to women dealing with the effects of sexual abuse, assault or violence
Rape Crisis UK – Men
National organisation providing information and support to men dealing with the effects of sexual abuse, assault or violence
If the incident happened in another country and you are still there, you can contact the local British consulate or embassy for assistance, including medical and legal help.
The Rape Crisis Network Europe website has information about specialist support services available in European countries.
Links to international support can be found here.
Sexual violence takes many forms and can be perpetrated by those closest to us. OSARCC has information on types of abuse, and support links for abuse that occurs in a range of circumstances.
You can speak to any member of the college welfare team, we will listen to you, and won’t judge. We can help you to identify where to find further support.
You can speak in confidence to the University Support Service or to another specialist service.