Any form of assault is never okay. We condemn unacceptable behaviour, including all assault, harassment and hate crime.
What is assault?
There are different types of assault, including verbal and physical assault which are outlined below. For information on sexual assault, please visit our sexual misconduct and assault pages.
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.
There are different types of assault, including verbal and physical assault which are outlined below. For information on sexual assault, please visit our sexual misconduct and assault pages.
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.
What is hate crime?
Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person’s disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity.
Examples of hate crime include, but are not limited to:
- physical assault
- verbal abuse, threats or name calling
- incitement to hatred, when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hated. This could be in words, pictures, videos, music and includes information on websites.
What can you do?
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively you make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area.
Find out more:
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provides further information on unlawful harassment and hate crime.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage your colleague to reach out to such support.
See our specialist support pages for a full list of support.