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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
you feel unsafe at a venue and staff or security are not helping

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

Short answer

Move to a safer, more visible place and leave the venue without confrontation if you can. If you think you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112 yourself now.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t try to win the argument, prove you are right, or shame the person who is escalating.
  • Don’t stay in one spot just because staff or security told you to wait, if the risk is rising.
  • Don’t go outside alone with someone who is pressuring you, even if they say it is just to talk.
  • Don’t move into isolated toilets, stairwells, back corridors, or quiet side streets unless that is the safest reachable route away.
  • Don’t post publicly about what is happening while you are still there.
  • Don’t stay because you have paid, have a tab open, left a coat, or feel worried about making a fuss.

What to do now

  1. Create distance first. Move towards a brighter, busier place where other people can see you, such as the bar, front desk, cloakroom, entrance area, or a visible queue. Keep the main exit or another public exit in sight if you can.

  2. Ask one specific person for help in plain words. Point to a staff member, security guard, bar worker, receptionist, or nearby adult and say: “I feel unsafe. I need help leaving safely now.” If you have seen signs that the venue uses a codeword scheme, you can also ask staff for “Angela”.

  3. If staff or security still do not respond, leave rather than argue. Go with a friend, a known person, or a nearby group if possible. If you are alone, move towards the busiest public exit with your phone in your hand and your bag or coat only if it is already with you.

  4. Call 999 or 112 if danger feels immediate. Give the venue name, address or nearby street, what is happening, where you are inside or just outside the venue, and whether anyone is injured or you have seen a weapon. Follow the call handler’s instructions while you move to the safest reachable public place.

  5. If you cannot safely speak, still call 999. Listen to the operator. If you can, respond by coughing or tapping when asked. On a mobile, if prompted, press 55 so the call can be put through to police.

  6. Make the exit boring and fast. Do not announce that you are calling police. Do not stop to explain yourself to the person escalating. Go to a well-lit public place, such as an open shop, hotel lobby, staffed transport point, or busy street, rather than a quiet side road.

  7. Stabilise the next few minutes once you are out.

    • Call a trusted person and tell them exactly where you are.
    • Arrange transport from a visible, well-lit pickup point near other people.
    • If you think you are being followed, go into a staffed place and call 999.
    • Leave tabs, refunds, coats, and complaints until you are safe.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to make a formal complaint, leave a review, or prove what happened.
  • You do not need to sort out a bill, tab, cloakroom ticket, coat, or lost item before getting safe.
  • You do not need to confront staff or security about their failure to act in the moment.
  • You do not need to write a full account while you are still shaken or still nearby.

Important reassurance

When a situation is escalating and the people in charge are not responding, it is normal to freeze, doubt yourself, or feel embarrassed about leaving. You do not need permission to move away from risk; the priority is to get to a safer public place and buy time.

Scope note

These are first steps only: get distance, get visible, leave if you can, and involve emergency services if there is immediate danger. Later decisions, such as reporting, complaints, licensing concerns, or support after an incident, may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, therapeutic, financial, or professional advice. If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112. If a crime may have happened and it is not an emergency, you can contact police on 101 or use the relevant police reporting route. If you later want to raise concerns about a venue’s safety practices, you can contact the local council responsible for licensing. If you believe security staff were acting illegally, abusing their position, or working without the proper licence, you can report a crime or concern to the Security Industry Authority.

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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