General duties: freedom of speech, access, egress, and peaceful protest
Academic activities
Meetings of clubs, etc
Other meetings and events
Powers of the Proctors in relation to threatened meetings
University premises made available for outside use
Miscellaneous
The following provisions constitute the Code of Practice adopted by Council to operate with effect from 1 September 1987 to facilitate the discharge of the duty imposed by Section 43 (1) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, in relation to Oxford University.
1. Members, students, and employees of the University are bound at all times so to conduct themselves as to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students, and employees of the University and for visiting speakers.
2. The freedom protected by para. 1 of this Code of Practice is confined to the exercise of freedom of speech within the law. Examples of statements which involve a breach of the criminal law are incitement to commit a crime, sedition, and stirring up racial hatred in contravention of statute. Statements may also be unlawful if they are defamatory or constitute a contempt of court.
5. All persons concerned with the organization or conduct of an activity which forms part of the University's teaching, study, or research (such as a lecture, demonstration, seminar, class, conference, research work, or examination) shall immediately give notice to the Proctors of any facts coming to their notice which indicate that such activity is likely to be delayed or disrupted by improper means.
6. The Proctors shall be empowered to give such directions and to adopt such measures as seem appropriate to them to prevent or minimize the delay or disruption of an academic activity, and all persons concerned with the organization or conduct of the academic activity under threat shall co-operate in carrying out the Proctors' directions and in facilitating the measures adopted.
7. In the event that any academic activity is delayed or disrupted by improper means a report shall forthwith be made to the Proctors by the person or persons responsible for the conduct of such activity.
8. In this Code the word "club" means any club, society, or other organization registered with the Proctors, and "officers" refers to the officers of the club, society, or other organization.
9. The junior members who are the officers of any club shall draw up a programme for the activities of the club in each term, advise the Senior Member of the club of its contents, and deliver a copy of such programme to the Proctors' Office by Friday in First Week in each term (as required by the regulations of the Rules Committee, published in the Proctors' Memorandum). The programme shall state the intended venue of each meeting of the club, the names of the speakers, and the subject matter for discussion.
10. Any subsequent additions or amendments to the programme (including changes of venue) shall immediately be notified to the Proctors' Office.
11. When any facts come to the notice of any of the officers which indicate that any meeting of the club is likely to be delayed or disrupted by improper means he or she shall immediately report such facts to the Proctors.
12. In relation to any club meeting which they believe to be threatened, the Proctors shall be empowered to give such directions and to require the adoption of such measures as seem appropriate to them to prevent or minimize the improper delay or disruption of the meeting, and all persons concerned shall be bound to co-operate in carrying out the Proctors' directions and in facilitating the measures required to be adopted.
13. Any member, student, or employee of the University who, whether alone or in collaboration with other persons, makes arrangements for the holding of a meeting or the assembly of persons in Oxford to be attended by members, students, or employees of the University, being a meeting or assembly which is not covered by the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of this Code, and who becomes aware of facts indicating that such meeting or assembly is likely to be delayed or disrupted by improper means, shall immediately report such facts to the Proctors.
14. In relation to any such meeting or assembly which they believe to be threatened, the Proctors may (subject to the provisos to subparas. (1) and (2) of para. 15 below) take such steps as seem to them to be appropriate and practicable in the circumstances to prevent or minimize the improper delay or disruption of the meeting or assembly.
(a) the number of persons to be admitted to the premises where the meeting is to be held;
(b) the issue of tickets of admission;
(c) the designation of one or more persons as the official organizers of the meeting with direct responsibility to the Proctors for all the arrangements thereof;
(d) the designation of a person as the chairman of the meeting with responsibility for the proper conduct of such meeting;
(e) the admission (or non-admission, as the case may be) of members of the public;
(f) the appointment of stewards to assist with the control of the meeting;
(g) the employment of security staff to ensure the orderly conduct of the meeting and safe access to and egress from the meeting;
(h) the carrying of banners, placards, and similar objects into the meeting;
(i) the place where the meeting is to be held.
Provided always that where the meeting is to be held on college premises it is expected that the authorities of the college concerned will issue directions and impose requirements as to the arrangements within the college after consulting the Proctors.
The Proctors will as necessary consult with the local police about forthcoming meetings and activities covered by this Code of Practice. In any case where serious disruption may be anticipated the Proctors shall have power, having taken into consideration such advice from the police as may be available, to order or, as may be appropriate, to advise the cancellation, postponement, or relocation of the meeting.
Provided always that this power shall not be available in the case of a meeting which is exclusively a college occasion in the sense that the meeting is held on college premises and no persons other than members of the college are entitled to be admitted.
(3) Expenses incurred in safeguarding academic activities and other meetings Where expenses are incurred (e.g. in the engagement of stewards or the employment of security staff) to safeguard an academic activity under Part 2 of this Code of Practice the cost thereof shall be borne by the University. In all other cases the cost shall be borne by the club or by the person or persons organizing the meeting, save that the Proctors may (if so advised) make representations to Council suggesting that the cost shall be borne in whole or in part by the University and Council may decide the matter.
16. In any case where the University is proposing to grant permission to an outside organization or group to hold meetings on university premises, the attention of such outside organization or group will be drawn to the contents of this Code of Practice and permission to use the premises may be refused unless the outside organization or group both undertakes to secure that the principles embodied in this Code will be upheld and satisfies the university authorities of its ability to discharge its obligations in regard to upholding freedom of speech.
17. Council is under a duty pursuant to Section 43 (3) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to keep this Code of Practice up to date. No revision of the Code will, however, take effect until after due notice has been given by publication in the University Gazette.
18. Failure by members and students of the University to comply with the provisions of this Code of Practice will constitute an offence under Tit. XIII, cl. 2 (b) of the University's Statutes. Where the acts of individuals involve breaches of the criminal law the University will be ready to assist the prosecuting authorities in implementing the due process of law, and disciplinary proceedings may be deferred or suspended pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
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