Home
Specialised Guidance
Personal Safety & Security For High-Risk Individuals
Know What To Do

Know What To Do

Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Protection Stage: Response & Review
Time to read:

If you are in immediate danger, concerned about threatening or abusive behaviour or suspicious activity: know what to do, who to call and what information to provide

Last Updated: 18 June 2026

High-risk individuals may be targeted online and in-person. In both virtual and physical environments, incidents can escalate from mildly concerning to very serious.

Unless action is taken, these incidents can have far-reaching consequences, causing harm, damage, or even loss of life. It is important to recognise the potential for escalation and to take practical steps to deal with incidents.

The following sections outline the actions you can take if you are subjected to:

Online incidents including, abuse, harassment, intimidation, threatening or malicious communications and unlawful access of your information.
In-person incidents including, surveillance (e.g. being watched or followed), threats, abuse, intimidation, damage to property and assault.

Guidance

Are you being abused, harassed or intimidated?

Take action to prevent, document and report online abuse

Guidance

Are you being targeted or is someone trying to access your information or accounts?

Protect your information and know what to do if you are a victim.

Guidance

Are you being watched or followed?

High-risk individuals may find themselves in a situation where they think they are being watched or followed

Guidance

Are you being confronted, threatened or abused?

Measures to take if you are being confronted or threatened or abused in-person

Guidance

De escalation and dealing with conflict

High-risk individuals may be approached by people experiencing distress, frustration, anger, or exhibiting threatening behaviour. These encounters can take place, face-to-face, online or over the phone