If you would like to speak to someone for further guidance, but do not want to initiate an investigation or any formal action, you can make an informal disclosure.
If you require emergency help, please call emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile). If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can text 999 if you're pre-registered with the emergency SMS service. If you need to register for this service, you can find information on how to do so here. If you are on campus, you can also call our 24/7 Security on 020 8240 4335 (4060 in emergencies).
Detailed information on informal disclosures:
- You can make an informal disclosure to any member of staff at the university, but usually they will assist you in speaking with someone who is trained or experienced in these matters
- You can go directly to Student Services: Please email studentlife@stmarys.ac.uk to book an appointment with a member of staff in our Student Life team. Alternatively, you can visit the Student Services Centre (J Building, 2nd floor) weekdays, 9am-5pm and speak to any member of staff available. For more information on Student Services and additional contact details, please visit their webpages.
- You can complete a report with contact details form and select that you would like support. Someone from the Student Life team will then get in touch with you and talk you through your reporting options and what support is avaialble to you.
- The Student's Union (SU): Please email smsu@stmarys.ac.uk to book a meeting with the Student Life President. Alternatively, you can visit the Student's Union (K Building, ground floor) weekdays, 9am-5pm and speak with any member of staff in the SU who will assist you in disclosing to the correct person. For more information on the SU visit the Student's Union website.
- Togetherall provides free online peer and professional support for St Mary's students. You can disclose informally and anonymously by writing on 'the wall' and they will help you to decide whether you wish to take matters further
By making an informal disclosure, you will be able to share what you have experienced in a safe space, ask questions about other reporting options and be informed of what support is available to you, internally and externally.
It is important to note that when making an informal disclosure, even to a member of staff, is not the same as making a formal report. Generally, there will be no direct action as a result of an informal disclosure, for you or any other people involved, unless there is a serious concern for your or somebody else's safety (please see information on confidentiality below). If you want action to be taken, you will need to make a formal report, though the informal disclosure process might help you decide whether to do this.
Where an incident may also be a crime, the member of staff may ask if you had thought about reporting the incident to the police. We understand that this may be a daunting subject and you aren't expected to make a decision in the moment.
You can also report non-emergency crimes to the police by:
When you make an informal disclosure, you will usually agree with the staff member you are disclosing to what you would like to happen next. No action will be taken unless you have agreed for it to happen, apart from in the exceptional circumstances outlined below. If you do decide to report formally, you must begin that process separately, though the information you have shared can form part of the investigation.
If you make your informal disclosure to Student Services and discussed your options in relation to reporting (if this is something you want to do) and how you can access support, you will be sent a follow up email with a recap of what was discussed and possible next steps. It is then up to you how you wish to proceed. If you want to make another type of report or access support, you will be able to follow the steps detailed in the email and ask any clarifying questions.
The information you provide will remain confidential, with the exception* of when we have a significant concern about your or somebody else's safety. If we do have concerns for your or somebody else's safety, confidentiality may be broken. If the need ever arises for confidentiality to be broken, where appropriate, every attempt will be made to discuss this with you beforehand. .
*Exceptions may include:
- If a student is considered to be at serious risk of harm to themselves or others
- Where a disclosure is required or allowed by law, e.g. the prevention of terrorism or treason or any other serious criminal offence or to fulfill statutory
- If the student poses a risk to the university
- If the incident described puts other members of the St Mary's community at risk