Assault

Verbal assault

Verbal assault makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting language with the intention of causing someone else harassment, alarm or distress.

Physical assault

Is an assault is any act by which a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer or apprehend immediate unlawful violence. The term assault is often used to include a battery, which is committed by the intentional or reckless application of unlawful force to another person.

Sexual assault

A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual and the person does not consent.  It involves all unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature and ranges from pinching, embracing, groping and kissing, to rape and sexual assault which involves penetration without consent.  Consent is agreeing by choice and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice. A person is free to make a choice if nothing bad would happen to them if they said no. Capacity is about whether someone is physically and/or mentally able to make a choice and to understand the consequences of that choice. 

What should I do if I have been assaulted in connection to my work, study, or relationship with IDS?

Think 

• Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999. If you are working internationally, many countries use the global emergency number 112.
• Find a safe space.  If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.

Report

• Report + Support. Staff, visitors, partners and third party contractors can report an incident using this Report + Support platform. You can choose to do this anonymously or give your contact details for a direct response and support. If you're a staff member at IDS you can choose to talk to an HR Advisor or Respect Responder. They will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
• IDS's Resolution Process. If you are a staff member and would like support to address and resolve your concerns, you can request resolution. Our HR Advisors can talk you through how IDS's Resolution process works.
• IDS's Complaints Procedure. If you are a student, partner, or third party contractor you can also report issues directly using IDS's Complaints Procedure.

Get Support

• Find out what support is available if you have been assaulted.
• Talk. Talk to your manager or cluster leader, a trusted colleague or a friend.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Find out more on the support available for mental health and wellbeing
• Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, IDS's Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offers confidential help. You can also speak to one of IDS's trained Mental Health First Aiders confidentially.