Sex assault claims went unreported

ST ANDREWS: None of 42 cases at university reached police

Victims of alleged sexual misconduct at St Andrews University have been urged to speak out after it emerged not a single case out of 42 brought to the institution’s attention over the past five years was reported to police.

Twenty students have been formally disciplined by the university since 2016, while three had their studies terminated following investigations into alleged sexual misconduct.

However, none of the victims went to the police, prompting concerns that offenders are not being brought to justice.

A Freedom of Information request showed sexual misconduct cases at the university have been rising, with 11 complaints in each of the last two years.

It comes just months after a group called St Andrews Survivors posted more than 20 allegations about sexual misconduct at the university on social media.

A spokesperson for the university said: “Universities cannot report matters such as this to the police without the permission or instruction of the student.”

Three students have been thrown out of S t An d r ew s University and 20 h av e been disciplined following allegations of sexual misconduct in the last five years.

However, none of the 42 complaints brought to the attention of university bosses in that period were reported to police.

Officers are urging people who have been the victim of a sexual offence of any kind during their time at the Fife institution to come forward after The Courier obtained the figures in a Freedom of Information request.

It comes as Po l i c e Scotland continues to probe online reports which emerged over the summer highlighting dozens of allegations of serious sexual assault and rape.

The FOI request has confirmed that 20 students have been disciplined by St Andrews University since 2016 following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Three were thrown out of the university after having their studies terminated.

Cases of alleged sexual misconduct have also been on the rise over the last five years, going from one in 2015-16, nine in 2016-17 and 10 in 2017-18 to 11 in each of the last two years.

The increases may be linked to the university introducing a new policy in 2016.

A St Andrews University spokesperson said: “In each case the person who alleged they had been assaulted decided not to report the matter to police, although in every case the university offers full support, whether the individual decides to report or not.”

The figures came to light just mo n t h s after an Instagram account called St Andrews Survivors posted more than 20 allegations about sexual m isconduc t at the u n i v e r s i ty, with many claiming members of a fraternity carried out the attacks.

The fraternity confirmed in a statement that several of its members had been suspended following the allegations and said it would conduct a thorough investigation.

Detective Inspector Kelly

McEwan , o f Po l ice Scotland’s Fife Division Public Protection Unit, said officers had made contact with groups including St Andrews Survivors.

She urged anyone who believes they have been a victim of a sexual crime to report it either directly to police, through the charity Crimestoppers or via Rape Crisis Scotland.

“Tackling this kind of crime is a priority and reports of sexual offences are treated with sensitivity and professionalism with victims being supported by specialist officers,” she said.

None of the 42 allegations in the five-year period were against members of staff.

All were investigated by the university.