Consent, boundaries and banter. Safeguarding lessons for young people

Russell Brand is a British comedian, actor and former television and radio presenter. He rose to fame in the 1990s and 2000s, appearing regularly on panel shows and comedy programmes. In September 2023, a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, brought serious allegations about Russell Brand into the public spotlight.

The programme prompted further women to come forward and was followed by a Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations of sexual assault and rape by Brand. Several women reported that he had sexually assaulted or raped them during incidents dating from 1999 to 2009.

He denied the allegations and said that he had never engaged in any sexual activity without consent. Following the police investigation, he went on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. After hearing the evidence, a jury found him guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

Many teenagers and young people will not know who Russell Brand is, as his popularity and media presence reduced towards the end of the 2000s, before many of them were born. However, their parents and teachers will no doubt recall his presence across the media and television. His attitudes and behaviour towards women were often presented as part of his “outrageous personality” or dismissed as acceptable banter for the era.

From a safeguarding perspective, the trial and prosecution of Brand may prompt conversations among some of our older students, and it contributes to three important safeguarding messages that we can deliver to them:

Consent

Students should be taught that consent must be freely and enthusiastically given and can be withdrawn at any time. Someone's fame, status, relationship with another person or previous sexual contact never removes the need for consent. Consent to one sexual act does not automatically mean consent has been given to another.

This is particularly relevant to the Brand case, where a woman whom the jury found he raped had initially consented to sexual activity but did not consent to what subsequently happened. Students should also understand that alcohol or other substances can affect a person's capacity to consent.

Boundaries

Students should be taught that a person’s boundaries should be respected at all times. The Brand case provides an opportunity to talk to young people about what happens when someone's sexual boundaries and choices are not respected. Russell Brand admitted in his own book that he did not always respect women’s boundaries and sometimes responded badly to rejection.

A boundary is a limit a person sets to help them feel safe, comfortable and respected. Students should be taught about their own boundaries, how to respect each other's, and how to feel empowered to speak up about behaviour that crosses these boundaries.

Banter

It is important that students realise there is a huge difference between a bit of “banter” and behaviour that crosses the line into sexual harassment or bullying. A simple definition is that banter could be described as joking or teasing where everyone involved is comfortable. This also means that nobody feels pressured or embarrassed, and the behaviour stops when someone asks for it to stop.

In contrast, sexual harassment is never OK, and some forms can be against the law. Sexual comments, gestures or behaviour can become particularly serious when they are unwanted, threatening, persistent or involve touching someone without consent. Students should be taught that if something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable, they should tell a trusted adult who can listen to them and offer support.

Ultimately, everyone has the right to feel safe, valued and respected. Teaching students about boundaries, consent and the law is an essential part of building a strong safeguarding culture for our older students. A strong safeguarding culture should empower young people to express what they are and are not comfortable with, while recognising and respecting the boundaries of others.

Respect works both ways. Young people should feel confident about their own boundaries, listen when someone expresses theirs and understand that nobody should feel pressured to accept behaviour simply to fit in. These principles form the basis of healthy relationships and are something every setting should strive to promote.

Read more on consent and why it matters

Read more on the reality of child-on-child sexual abuse

Read more on safeguarding girls in settings

Read more on the downfall of Russell Brand

About the author: Melissa Pollard is a Designated Safeguarding Lead with 20 years experience in education and children's mental health.