OXFORD University is to offer an upgraded support service to victims of sexual violence.

In the wake of worldwide focus on sexual harassment, the institution will provide students with enhanced specialist support and advice, beginning in the next academic year.

The University says the new service will ‘complement and improve existing support’.

It adds that recommendations in a report by the University’s Sexual Violence Working Group will be implemented and that more than 380 trained advisors will offer confidential guidance and support to student victims.

The service will aim to guide students through the options and support available to them, including police reports and signposting the specialist counselling and therapy.

Professor Martin Williams, pro vice-chancellor for education, said: "We want our students to know sexual harassment of any sort is unacceptable here and they can always turn to the University for help.

“In creating this new service, we will be offering a supportive environment where students can be listened to, counselled, and guided."

Other initiatives include greater training for welfare staff, sexual consent workshops for new students, ‘bystander intervention training’ and ‘Good Lad' workshops to help male students 'with issues around masculinity and respect'.

The University added that it would look more closely at disciplinary action later this year.

The It Happens Here campaign and Oxford Student Union’s Women’s Campaign were both contacted for comment.