Positioning, Distance and Escape

Where you position yourself can make a big difference to your personal safety.

A small change in position can create more space, make it easier to leave and give you more time to respond if a situation changes.

The aim is simple:

Give yourself options.

Distance gives you time

The closer someone is to you, the less time you may have to react to a sudden movement.

Where possible, maintain a distance that feels appropriate for the situation.

If someone moves closer and you feel uncomfortable, you can move too.

You might:

• take a step back

• move to the side

• place an object such as a table between you

• move closer to other people

• reposition yourself nearer an exit

You do not have to wait for somebody to become aggressive before creating more space.

Be aware of your position

Consider what is around you.

Standing with your back against a wall or becoming trapped between furniture can reduce your options.

Being positioned in a corner can make leaving more difficult.

If a situation is becoming uncomfortable, look for a position that gives you more freedom of movement.

Ask yourself:

Can I move?

Can I see what is happening?

Can I reach an exit?

Is anything blocking me?

Protect your escape route

When something concerns you, avoid allowing yourself to become unnecessarily trapped.

For example, if an uncomfortable conversation is taking place near a doorway, consider whether the other person is between you and the exit.

A small change in position may put you closer to the door.

You are not predicting that something bad will happen.

You are simply keeping an option available.

Use the environment

Your surroundings can help you create space.

A table, chair, counter, parked vehicle or other object may provide a useful barrier between you and another person.

This does not mean barricading yourself in or preparing for a confrontation.

It simply means noticing how your environment affects your options.

Think about:

• exits

• obstacles

• other people

• staff or security

• well-lit areas

• open businesses

• places where you could get help

Your environment is part of your dynamic risk assessment.

Avoid being drawn somewhere less safe

If you are already uncomfortable with someone’s behaviour, be cautious about moving somewhere that gives you fewer options.

This might include:

• a quieter room

• an isolated street

• a vehicle

• an alleyway

• somewhere away from friends

• an area where fewer people are present

You do not need to go somewhere simply because another person asks you to.

If you would feel safer remaining where you are, stay where other people are present or move towards a safer location.

Leaving is an option

People sometimes remain in uncomfortable situations because leaving feels rude or awkward.

Remember the inhibitors we discussed earlier.

You do not always need to explain or justify your decision to leave.

If you can safely leave a situation that concerns you, leaving may be your best option.

Personal safety is not about winning an argument or proving that you were right.

It is about getting yourself to safety.

Don’t give up distance unnecessarily

If somebody is angry or behaving unpredictably, moving closer to them may reduce your options.

Avoid allowing an argument to pull you into somebody else’s space.

Where possible:

Create distance rather than close it.

Move towards an exit rather than away from one.

Move towards people rather than isolation.

These are simple decisions, but they can make a significant difference if the situation continues to escalate.

NOTICE → THINK → ACT

If a situation begins to concern you:

NOTICE

Where am I?

How close is the person?

Where are the exits?

What is around me?

THINK

Can I create more distance?

Could I change position?

Where could I go?

Is my route clear?

ACT

Move.

Create distance.

Use the environment.

Keep an escape route available.

Leave when it is safe to do so.

Positioning is not about preparing for a fight.

It is about reducing the chance that you will need one.

Distance gives you time. Positioning gives you options.