Core Concepts of Personal Safety

This section addresses each of the ten Core Concepts of Personal Safety outlined in the Personal Safety Strategies Program. These concepts form the foundation for all situational personal safety strategies and should therefore be incorporated into all advice and presentations given to the community.

It is vital to note that when providing personal safety presentations or advice, police should do so in the form of suggestions rather than rules. In the past police have provided community members with rules to follow in order to avoid attacks, such as don't go out at night alone, and always park your car under a street light. Advice presented as rules can increase the fear of crime, and can also place blame on the victim if the ‘rules’ weren't followed and an attack occurred. The only person who should be blamed for an attack is the offender.

By using suggestions rather than rules we empower individuals to make their own choices in personal safety situations. These suggestions are often best conveyed in the following manner, "if you do not feel comfortable… (in a particular situation), you may consider… (taking on certain personal safety tips)". For example, "If you don't feel comfortable walking alone at night, you might consider taking a friend or dog with you or even deciding not to take the walk." Then explain why.

Remember, only the individual involved in the personal safety situation can assess what their best options are.

The Right to Safety

It is important that all community members are aware of, and exercise, their right to safety. Of course it is true that it is not a perfect world and your personal safety may be threatened. However, similar to car insurance, which many people take out despite their right to drive their car without having it damaged, you should also be encouraged to implement safety strategies to deal with a threat to your personal safety. The implementation of practical safety strategies does not remove your right to safety, it merely ensures that you take preventative action and are prepared, and committed to your personal safety, should your right ever be threatened.

It is also important to acknowledge and respect that all people possess the right to safety. You may choose to assist others whose right is not respected, and encourage them to develop and implement a personal safety plan in order to deal with a threat to their safety.

Keep Fear of Violence in Perspective

Many people have a fear of crime which is significantly disproportionate to the reality of crime. This fear often results in unnecessary limitations being placed on one's lifestyle. Education is the key to putting the fear of crime into perspective. By examining the common trends associated with personal violence offences, such as how often, when, where they occur and by whom, the actual likelihood of becoming a victim, and in what circumstances, can be identified. Only when the risks are identified, can practical safety strategies be chosen and implemented to significantly minimise these risks. This way preventative strategies are based on the actual risk, rather than restricting one's lifestyle based on an exaggerated fear.

Undertaking this process will also assist people in dispelling popular misconceptions surrounding personal violence. For example, many people have a fear of being raped or sexually assaulted, often limiting their lifestyle to avoid the possibility of it occurring, such as not going out alone or at night. However, most people are not aware that approximately 80% of all rapes and sexual assaults are committed by a known person, the majority of offences occurring within the home.

If you are interested in finding out more information about personal violence, you are encouraged to conduct research at your local library or via the internet. The Queensland Police Service publishes a Statistical Review each year containing up to date statistics on personal violence offences. You may also consider organising for a police officer to deliver a personal safety presentation to address common trends of personal violence, associated risks and practical preventative strategies.

Commitment

Being committed to your personal safety is fundamental to maintaining it. Many people have a strong commitment to preserving the safety of their loved ones, often being willing to take any action required if those people were in danger, but do not have the same level of commitment to their own safety.

All community members are encouraged to value themselves and develop a strong commitment to their own safety. This level of commitment will allow them to actively preserve their safety by implementing preventative strategies as well as taking action should their safety be threatened.

Confidence

Confidence can be a valuable tool for all people in many aspects of life. In the context of personal safety, having and displaying confidence plays a vital role in the preservation of safety. Offenders target people they perceive to be vulnerable and who would offer them the least amount of resistance. As a result, the vast majority of attacks can be deterred simply by appearing to be confident and self-assured. Remember if you don't feel confident in any situation, fake it!! This will ensure you enjoy the same benefits and may even boost your confidence.

Confidence is also reflected in a person’s ability to maintain their personal safety. A confident person is more likely to identify and implement preventative safety strategies; to have faith in their own abilities; and to take action if their personal safety is threatened. Whereas a person without confidence is not. Additionally, when people lack confidence they tend to lead a restricted lifestyle, thereby diminishing their quality of life.

As a result of the above mentioned benefits, having confidence will enhance one's quality of life. Confidence is a source of power, allowing a person to do tremendous things. All successful people have confidence in their abilities. As Thomas Edison once said, "If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves".

Body Language

Body language is a powerful tool that can be used to your advantage. By appearing confident and comfortable in your surroundings you are decreasing your attractiveness to potential offenders. Strong, confident body language includes standing tall with your head up, shoulders back and walking with a purpose. Making brief eye contact with passers-by is also an effective method of demonstrating your confidence

Awareness of Surroundings

Being aware of what is happening around you by continuously surveying your surroundings will alert you to possible threats to your safety before they reach you, giving you the opportunity to remove yourself from the situation. The key here is to look relaxed and comfortable, rather than paranoid, thereby making you appear to be ‘streetwise’, and further decreasing the likelihood of being targeted as a potential victim.

Trusting and Acting on Instincts

Your body will sense danger long before your mind will consciously work out why. It is vitally important to listen to, trust, and act on these instincts. If you do sense danger or pick up 'bad vibes' from someone, something or some place, you are encouraged to leave and go to a place where you feel safe again e.g. by walking or running away.

Assertiveness

Assertive communication allows people to express their points of view objectively to (strive to) reach an agreeable solution. It does not involve backing down (being passive) or standing over someone (being aggressive). Assertive behaviour does not come naturally to most people. However, by practising assertiveness in handling minor matters, such as advising a shop assistant if you have been short-changed, or returning unsatisfactory food at a restaurant, you can enhance your ability to be assertive in other aspects of life.

Networks

One of the core themes of the Protective Behaviours personal safety program is ,"Nothing is so awful that you can’t talk about it with someone". However, many people find it difficult to trust others with their thoughts, feelings or experiences. Often people in most need of a trusted person to talk with, such as victims of domestic violence or people contemplating suicide, are the most isolated.

There are many benefits of having a network of trusted people to talk with. By talking with people we trust and gaining their support, advice and opinions we are often better equipped to handle and solve our problems. A supportive network can also assist to increase our confidence and self esteem – positively impacting on all aspects of our life. Everyone is encouraged to develop their own network of trusted people to talk with, as well as being a good friend/support person for others.

Personal Safety Plan

All community members are encouraged to develop their own personal safety plan. This plan is useful to build an individual’s confidence and commitment to their own safety, by considering practical preventative information as well as strategies to prepare them should their safety ever be threatened.

A Personal Safety Plan consists of safety strategies a person chooses to suit their own lifestyle and abilities. These strategies should become habits and therefore shouldn't need to be dwelt upon after they are practised. A Personal Safety Plan should not involve succumbing to a list of rules provided by someone, (e.g. police), telling you what to do.

As many people find it difficult to think clearly in panic situations, pre-rehearsing strategies will prepare you to automatically utilise your safety options. The technique of visual imagery involves imagining yourself in a particular situation whereby you successfully implement chosen strategies, thereby preparing you for action should the situation ever occur. Accordingly, by mentally visualising yourself dealing with a particular incident, there is a greater chance that you will think clearly and react automatically. For example, you might imagine how you would speak assertively to stand up to a bully at work.

When a person faces a confrontational situation their reaction may depend upon a number of factors including confidence in their ability to deal with the incident, their personal commitment to preserving their own safety and the options they identify as being available at the time of the incident.
As police we are frequently called upon to offer advice to community members in relation to appropriate actions to take when an individual’s personal safety is threatened. Whilst the availability of one ‘set’ answer would be comforting to many, the reality is that no-one can provide one safety option that will work with 100 percent effectiveness in 100 percent of situations. Rather, it is important to emphasise that an individual involved in such a confrontation needs to be aware of a wide range of personal safety options, in order to draw upon those that they feel will best preserve their safety in the given situation.

This section will address the following issues:

1. The importance of taking ‘action’ as opposed to ‘inaction’ to deal with a threat to our personal safety; and
2. The three major factors that assist in determining appropriate safety options in any given situation. These being:
   • the personal strengths and weaknesses of the defender;
   • the perceived motivations for the attack/confrontation; and
   • any relevant environmental factors accompanying the attack.

Further to the above issues, this section will also outline a number of specific actions which may be utilised in a confrontational situation. This will be done in order to provide community members with a range of effective safety options for use, should their personal safety ever be threatened.