A student at a prestigious college made an allegation of serious sexual assault against another student. The police were called and the alleged perpetrator was immediately arrested; this was witnessed by many other students, leading to speculation and concern across the college community.

There was an urgent need to provide reassurance about the police presence and to minimise the risk of false narratives developing, while at the same time ensuring that the identities and wellbeing of both the students concerned were protected. I worked with the college leadership to communicate with students and staff, taking various sensitivities into account.  

The timing, content and tone of the communications were appreciated by the college community and limited the potential for the incident to escalate into a crisis.