We are here to help you understand the investigation process when reporting an incident of sexual misconduct.
A police investigation
The person reporting sexual misconduct (the affected party) can make a complaint to the police at anytime, asking them to investigate the allegation so they can decide whether or not to lay criminal charges. You can call the police on 105 (if it is not an emergency).
Contact details for the Dunedin Central Police Station
Assistance with making a police complaint
A police investigation can be a stressful and difficult process to go through. If you would like support in making a complaint to the police, Te Whare Tāwharau can help you.
Or you might want to have your parents, friends or a lawyer with you. You may want to seek support for this process directly from Victim Support – they can be contacted through the police, by calling 105
If the police decide to lay charges against a respondent (the person who allegedly committed the sexual misconduct), the police will be acting for you (the affected party). This means you will not need your own lawyer. However, you can still always ask for assistance from either a lawyer or from Victim Support.
An investigation by the University Proctor
The University Proctor can investigate complaints of sexual misconduct. The Proctor can only investigate if the respondent (the person alleged to have committed the sexual harm) is a University of Otago student or an Otago Polytechnic student and there is a sufficient connection between the alleged sexual misconduct and the University.
You can have the Proctor investigate the incident and make a complaint to the police. However, if both investigations occur at the same time, the Proctor’s investigation will be put on hold until the police investigation is finished.
Visit the Proctor's Office website
Grievous and non-grievous sexual misconduct
It is important to know the Proctor does not have authority to investigate 'grievous sexual misconduct’.
Only the police can investigate allegations of ‘grievous sexual misconduct’.
Grievous sexual misconduct includes:
- Actual or attempted rape/non-consensual sex
- Penetration of anus or vagina by any body part or object
- Non-consensual oral sex
A definition of grievous sexual misconduct can be found in the Sexual Misconduct Policy
What the University can help with when the complaint is grievous sexual misconduct
- Listening to you and supporting you
- Helping you feel safe on campus
- No-fault protective measures
- Academic special consideration
- Assistance with making a police complaint
- Counselling/Getting ACC funded counselling
- Student Health (for physical or mental health assistance)
- Religious/spiritual guidance
- Māori cultural support
- Pacific cultural support