Sexual misconduct reports to North East universities are increasing

The number of sexual misconduct reports to universities in the North East is growing, a Spark investigation can reveal.

*Warning: contains topics of sexual assault that some people may find distressing*

 

Protesters take part in a Reclaim The Night march in October 2025, calling for an end to sexual violence.
CREDIT: Lajmmoore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spark Sunderland gathered the statistics by sending Freedom of Information requests to Northumbria University, Newcastle University, and the University of Sunderland for the academic years of 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

Northumbria University has seen the highest increase in the number of sexual misconduct reports. Between 2023-2024, there were nine reports made to the university. In the current academic year, as of February 26, 2026, that number has more than doubled to 23 already.

In 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, there were fewer than five reports of sexual misconduct made to the University of Sunderland each year. In the current academic year, there have already been five reports made.

Newcastle University has seen a decrease in the number of reports. Between 2024-2025, there were 13 reports and in this academic year, there have been five so far.

However, campaigners believe that reports made to the universities are a fraction of the real number of sexual assaults.

Non-profit organisation, Enough, believes that these crimes are rarely reported.

Enough is a social movement to prevent rape, created by Katie White and Tom Allchurch.

The organisation provides a simple way for survivors to report the crime and access support. It also launched a pilot scheme in Bristol that offered free rape test kits to university students to collect and store the DNA of alleged attackers.

This process can be a quicker option than going to a ‘SARC’, which is a sexual assault referral centre where sexual assaults can be reported, and a forensic examination can be carried out.

Tom Allchurch from Enough said that the current system “is not working”. He added: “If we want to stop rape, then we’re going to have to do some things that are different, I just wanted to work on it and figure out, what could be done that was different that could work.”

Charlotte Hooks, 23, who creates informative videos for university students, says that she does not think there is enough support for victims of sexual assault: “I can’t think of anywhere or any organisation…the world doesn’t offer enough support for sexual assault victims, that’s just not how we are built.”

Charlotte, who has experienced sexual assault and knows people who have, said that the best support she received was from a member of staff at her accommodation who was not linked to the university. She said: “(They were) lovely, so helpful, they clearly have training to deal with young people.”

Charlotte, who has waived her right to anonymity in order to tell her story, thinks that education needs to be implemented long before people reach university level. She said: “Education around teaching kids not to behave like that needs to come from much earlier and schools are adapting, schools are implementing new things…the PSHE curriculum has updated recently.”

In 2025, the Department for Education updated the PSHE curriculum for the first time since 2019, to include: “greater emphasis on misogyny, violence against women and girls and related factors, including the negative impact of pornography…our new guide to misogyny and the manosphere will support teachers to address the impact of toxic online influence in the classroom.”

Tom also told Spark Sunderland that education is extremely important. He said: “Nobody should leave school without having had several hours of education in how to have sex safely and without understanding the danger and the trauma caused by non-consensual sex.”

Charlotte also acknowledged that, while it should not be a victim’s job to try to prevent something happening to them, there are measures that could help keep you safe, such as carrying rape alarms and covers for your drink, and going out with people who you trust and will look after you.

Charlotte also mentioned ‘Invisawear’ necklaces that look like a normal piece of jewellery but have a hidden button on the back of the pendant that sends your GPS location to your emergency contacts and can notify emergency services on your behalf. She said: “That is a very slept on thing. They are a little bit pricey, but I would say it’s completely worth it.”

A spokesperson for Northumbria University said: “We are committed to ensuring our Northumbria community is a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for study and work. Unacceptable behaviour in any form has no place on our campuses. The figures shared coincide with a targeted campaign to promote the use of our online reporting tool which allows those who have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct, harassment, or any other unacceptable behaviour, to report incidents that have occurred both on and off campus. The tool allows for reports to be made anonymously or with contact details and signposts users to a range of support services available within the University and externally. Students and staff in need of advice or guidance can access further information via their Student Portal or on our website.”

A spokesman for the University of Sunderland said: “Although reports remain low, the University’s nationally recognised wellbeing and support services, provides students and staff with confidential, expert help for any issues they may be experiencing.”

We have reached out to Newcastle University for a comment, and we are waiting to hear back.