Support for Online Harassment
If you are worried for your immediate safety, call 999.
If you have concerns and it is not an emergency, call 101.
Support within the University
Both staff and students can report online harassment of any kind through the Report & Support website. We encourage anyone experiencing abuse to get in touch with us, even anonymously, as we cannot tackle what we don't know is happening.
Just click on 'Report to an Adviser' below and support will be offered to you.
General points
If you are being bullied or harassed online:
- Do not engage with the perpetrator (consider blocking them if appropriate and safe to do so)
- Capture evidence of harassment (e.g. taking screenshots of abusive messages)
- Many social media sites have safety pages, where you can report many forms of inappropriate behaviour
- Stop answering the person's calls, emails, and other messages.
- Delete the person from your phone and social media accounts and set up a block on that number if possible.
If your personal information has been published online (doxxed), phone the police on 101 for advice on how to manage the situation.
Gathering evidence
If the harassment is continuing, keep a record of every incident that occurs.
Keep all email, text, letters and social media correspondence you have received. You can screenshot these to note the dates and times of the incidents. Write down an account of what has happened, noting the date and place of each incident. Keep the names of other people who have witnessed the bullying/harassing behaviour in case you need to ask them to verify your account of what occurred.
Bullying support
The National Bullying Helpline offer support and information about cyberbullying.
Website: https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/
Freephone: 0300 323 0169
Revenge porn support
Have you had your intimate images shared online without your consent?
You can get support from the Revenge Porn Helpline website: https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/
Hate crime
Stop Hate UK offer facilities to report hate crime both online and on the phone.
Website: https://www.stophateuk.org/
Phone: 0800 138 1625
If you have been the vicitm of a hate crime, you are encouraged to report this to North Yorkshire Police on 101.