Meeting Potential Threats

If faced with a potentially dangerous situation or threatening person:

• Try to remain calm and assess the situation.
  
• Activate alarm or call for help as soon as it is safe to do so.
  
• Obey any instructions, but do not provide money or goods not asked for.
  
• Move slowly but with safety.
  
• Advise the offending person of any movements you may have to make which could appear sudden or unexpected.
  
• Unless otherwise ordered, continually watch the offending person.
  
• Do not invade the space of the person committing the offence and keep your hands in view.
  
• Make mental notes about the offender, e.g. Clothing, scars, tattoos, unusual features, odours, accent, speech, nicknames, and weapon if used.
  
• Check height against door markers.
  
• Mentally go through a possible offence and consider what you can do. This helps your mind not go blank and you can have a more secure control of any situation which may occur.

Remember: No amount of money is worth a life.

If an offence occurs, take the following steps:

• Activate an alarm, if not already activated.
  
• Telephone police with the following information:
  • Your name.
    
  • address of premises, including nearest cross streets.
    
  • number of offenders and description.
    
  • description of vehicle and direction of travel.

• Close premises to the public and isolate area for forensic tests.
  
• Ensure no one interferes with the scene or any articles that may have been left behind by the offending person/s (e.g. note or weapon)
  
• Request witnesses to remain or get their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
  
• Have staff independently complete suspect description forms.
  
• Refrain from making statements to the media before police arrive.
  
• Do not discuss with anyone the amount of money or goods stolen.
• Supply police with all details, however insignificant they may appear.
• Consider victim support or counselling for your staff.