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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone near you is acting aggressively or erratically and you feel unsafe

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Create distance, put a barrier between you and them, and move towards staff, exits, or a safer public place. Call 999 if violence may happen soon, someone is being threatened, or anyone is in immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t argue, mock, tell them off, or try to win the interaction.
  • Don’t touch, restrain, or block their path unless you must do so to escape immediate harm.
  • Don’t follow them, chase them, or try to teach them a lesson.
  • Don’t corner them, including by standing in a doorway, stairwell, or narrow exit.
  • Don’t film openly if it is likely to escalate the situation or make you a target.
  • Don’t get into a car, lift, small room, or other confined space with them.
  • Don’t assume it is just alcohol; illness, injury, drugs, or distress can look similar.

What to do now

  1. Move yourself first. Step back, angle away, and head towards an exit, open space, staffed counter, reception desk, bus driver area, station office, or other people at a safe distance. Keep your hands visible and your voice low if you have to speak.

  2. Put something between you and them. Use a table, parked car, counter, row of seats, or group of people at a safe distance. Avoid being trapped against walls, platforms, stairs, water, or the edge of a road.

  3. Tell the owner of the space. If you are in a pub, shop, venue, station, workplace, or on transport, tell staff plainly: “A person is getting aggressive near the entrance. Can you help keep people safe and call police if needed?”

  4. Use 999 for danger now. Call 999 if the situation could get heated or violent very soon, someone is being threatened or blocked, a weapon is seen or mentioned, a crime is happening now, or you cannot safely leave.

  5. Use 101 or online reporting only once safe, and only if it is not urgent. If the behaviour was concerning but there is no immediate danger, contact police later by calling 101 or using an online report route.

  6. If someone may have alcohol poisoning, get emergency help without putting yourself at risk. Call 999 if you think alcohol poisoning is possible, someone has had a seizure, lost consciousness, stopped breathing, or is not breathing normally. If it is safe, stay nearby, keep them warm, put them in the recovery position if they have passed out but are breathing, and keep checking their breathing. If it is not safe to stay close, get staff or other people to help while you keep distance.

  7. If you cannot speak safely on a 999 call, stay on the call and follow the prompts. Try to whisper, cough, or tap if you can. From a mobile, press 55 or tap when prompted so the call can be transferred to police. From a landline, stay on the line if you can; background noise may help the operator understand that help is needed.

  8. If you are with someone else, coordinate one simple action. Say, “You tell staff and call 999; I’ll guide us to the exit.” Stay in sight of each other unless one person can safely reach staff or 999 faster.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out whether it is alcohol, drugs, illness, mental health, or deliberate behaviour right now.
  • You do not need to decide whether to complain, give a statement, or prove what happened.
  • You do not need to calm them down yourself.
  • You do not need to keep watching once you are safe and appropriate help has been called.

Important reassurance

Freezing, shaking, or feeling unsure is a normal response when someone nearby is escalating. Leaving early, changing route, getting staff, or calling 999 when danger may be developing is a reasonable safety choice.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce immediate risk and avoid escalation. Later decisions, such as reporting, medical follow-up, venue complaints, transport reports, or safeguarding concerns, may need specialist help.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal, medical, security, therapeutic, or other professional advice. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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