Safety Plan

A safety plan will help protect your friend or family member and by being prepared for situations that might happen, it will increase their safety.

Safety Planning Tips                   

• If it is safe to do so, suggest they store important telephone numbers including their local domestic violence service, the police domestic violence unit, the family G.P. and schools. 
• Suggest they teach children to call 999 in an emergency; and how to say their full name, address and telephone number.
• If they have neighbours they can trust, suggest they tell them what is going on and ask them to call the police if they hear anything that worries them.
• Discuss/ rehearse an escape plan with them so that in an emergency they can get away safely.
• If they are planning to leave their partner, make sure that important documents like passports, driving licence and benefit information are kept in a place that they can get to easily but where their partner will not find them.
• Consider offering to store an emergency bag and important documents safely for them.
• Suggest they keep a small amount of money on them at all times for the phone and for bus fares.
• Recommend that they try to keep a credit or debit card with them if they have one.
• Check that they know where the nearest phone is and if they have a mobile phone ask them to keep it with them.
• Get them to think about which room would be the safest to go to if they think they might be attacked.  If possible, they should go to a room where there is a telephone or a way out of the house.  Advise them to stay away from the kitchen and other dangerous areas such as the garage.  If an altercation occurs, they should try and position themselves closest to the doorway.

For further advice and support in putting together a safety plan for your friend or family member, please contact the Safespots Team on 07873889637 or email info@safespots.org.uk

Our support service is available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm