Universities are being urged to sign up to a global monitoring scheme that campaigners say could be a “game changer” for preventing known sexual abusers moving between institutions.
The Misconduct Disclosure Scheme picks up perpetrators who have had disciplinary processes completed against them, or who are subject to ongoing investigation, but who may not have committed crimes or been investigated by the police.
Experts believe that higher education institutions have long faced problems with staff moving between institutions during investigations into gender-based violence or harassment – an issue known as “pass-the-perpetrator”.
“It’s extremely concerning when staff suddenly move institutions during an investigation into sexual misconduct as it allows them to continue such behaviours with impunity,” said Anna Bull, the director of the 1752 Group set up to address sexual harassment in higher education.
