4.11 Personal safety, violence and aggression

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to clarify the standards and arrangements that the University has set for dealing with abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour on its premises or to members of staff in circumstances relating to their employment.

Note that the University has Grievance and Disciplinary procedures which deal with allegations of abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour between members of staff.

General principles

The University does not tolerate abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour on its premises.

The University requires that the risk of abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour occurring is assessed and that appropriate risk control systems and precautionary measures are implemented to eliminate or minimise significant risks.

Staff are encouraged to report incidents involving abuse, threats, aggression, or physical assault whether they result in injury or not.

The University supports members of staff who are victims of violence or aggression at work with counselling.

The University will instigate disciplinary measures in line with its Regulations against students who are abusive, aggressive, or violent on University premises.

The University will support criminal prosecution by the police of third parties who are aggressive or violent to its staff or on its premises.

Responsibilities

Corporate managers ensure that this policy is implemented in their area.

Heads of department ensure that appropriate risk control systems including precautionary and contingency measures based on these principles are in place and are implemented effectively.

Heads of department will instigate investigations into cases where there appears to have been violent, aggressive, or abusive behaviour by students on University premises, and will if appropriate instigate disciplinary procedures in line with Section H of the University’s Regulations for Academic Programmes.

Arrangements for recording of abusive, aggressive, or violent behaviour

Staff should record incidents of abusive , aggressive or violent behaviour via the accident or incident reporting system.

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4.11 Personal safety, violence and aggression