Freedom of Speech and Expression | Regulatory Compliance and Assurance

Manage your preferences

The Leeds Beckett website is designed to enable you to manage your own privacy preferences. By clicking on 'Cookies' below you can manage what data the site collects about your browsing. This will only maintain if you are on your own device or using a synched version of your chosen browser. If you are using a shared or public machine without synching your browser then there is no need to change the preferences.

Our site is built with accessibility in mind and we seek to adhere to the WACG AA levels of compliance for digital accessibility. To support that we have provided instructions on managing animations below.

Cookies

Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable you to use all the different parts of leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Without them services that you have asked for cannot be provided. Necessary cookies can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us understand how people are using our websites, so we can improve them and provide a better user experience. We also sometimes get our approved partner companies to analyse how people are using Leeds Beckett Websites and they may set their own analytical cookies in order to do this.
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies allow us to provide you with online adverts that are the most relevant and useful for you.
For more information please view our Privacy Policy

Animations & Interaction

The Leeds Beckett University website occasionally uses animations to page elements and animated gifs to add impact to pages. If you wish to stop them from playing for accessibility purposes or for personal preference then please see the guidance below. Please note that browsers sometimes change how they operate, so please refer to your browser help files to find their latest information.
How do I turn off animations?

Chrome

Chrome users will need to use browser extensions. Animation Policy from Google will help you set your own preferences.

Microsoft Edge

There is currently no way to disable animations within Microsoft Edge. Users of Edge (Chromium) browser can install the Chrome extensions above and use them.

Internet Explorer

To stop animations on a single page you can just press the 'Esc' key. This will stop the animation on that page. If you wish to restart the animations you need to refresh the page. To permanently disable the playing of animated GIF images, open Internet Options > Advanced tab. Under the Multimedia section, uncheck the Play animations in webpage check-box, click Apply and Exit and then restart your computer.

Firefox

Type about:config in Firefox address bar and hit Enter to open Settings. Search for the image.animation_mode flag and change its value from Normal to None. Once you restart Firefox this will disable animations.

The University recognises the importance of free speech and is committed to the principle, promotion, and protection of freedom of speech within the law, including academic freedom. The University must uphold the law and balance its various legal duties, including securing freedom of speech and keeping people safe, whilst also ensuring the proper functioning of the University.

Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech

The Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech sets out the University’s values and expectations in relation to freedom of speech, the steps the University will take to promote and secure freedom of speech within the law and summarises the University procedures in place to procure compliance. The Code of Practice has been reviewed and was approved by the Board of Governors on 22 November 2024; there is no fundamental change to the University’s position and values on freedom of speech, rather a restatement and clarification in light of recent law, guidance and experience.

Those who are responsible for organising or approving a University event must be made aware of the Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech, Approval of Events Procedure and Events Code of Conduct. A short guide is set out in our FAQ document.

Events, Meetings, Activities and Protests on campus or in the University’s name

The Approval of Events Procedure sets out the formal process for organising and approving an event (whether on campus, or, in the University’s name including events online or off campus), ensuring safety, ethical and legal considerations are taken into account.

The procedure extends to all meetings, events, activities and protests in scope of the Code of Practice, not just external speaker events.

All non-timetabled events should be logged via the events form accessible via the Events Forum. Events within the scope of the Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech will prompt an approval request within Teams. The decision-making process remains unchanged, with the starting presumption that an event should be approved.

Once an event is approved, all speakers (including internal and external speakers) and event attendees must comply with the Events Code of Conduct.

For further advice, please contact the Registrar and Secretary's Office at governance@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.