11/06/2026
COMMUNITY SAFETY STATEMENT
Looking After Each Other During Periods of Civil Unrest
In times of tension and disorder, the safety and wellbeing of our neighbours must come first.
We are asking everyone in our community to take practical, peaceful steps to support one another and reduce the risk of people becoming isolated or vulnerable.
1. Check on Your Neighbours
- Make contact with elderly, disabled, vulnerable, or isolated neighbours.
- Exchange phone numbers with people living nearby.
- Establish a simple neighbourhood check-in system, particularly for those living alone.
- Ensure people know who they can call if they need urgent help.
set up a neighbourhood what’s app phone tree!
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2. Support Access to Essentials
- Offer assistance with collecting prescriptions, groceries, baby supplies, or other necessities for neighbours who may be afraid to leave their homes.
- Check whether vulnerable households have enough medication, food, and phone credit to last several days if travel / movement becomes difficult.
3. Plan Ahead
- Every household should think about what they would do if they needed to leave their home quickly.
- Keep important documents, medication, chargers, and essential items together in an easily accessible place.
- Ensure family members know how to contact each other if separated.
4. Know Your Safe Options
- Identify trusted friends, relatives, or community contacts who may be able to provide temporary accommodation if required.
- Familiarise yourself with local community centres, places of worship, and emergency support organisations that may be able to provide assistance during a crisis.
- Keep emergency contact numbers readily available.
5. Think About Safe Routes
- Consider more than one route away from your street or neighbourhood.
- Avoid areas where disorder, crowds, or roadblocks have been reported.
- Share information carefully and only from trusted sources to avoid spreading rumours.
6. Support Those Under Threat
- If a neighbour feels unsafe, do not leave them isolated.
- Help them contact family members, community organisations, housing providers, or emergency services where appropriate.
- Offer practical support such as transport, communication assistance, childcare, or temporary refuge where it is safe to do so.
- Record and report incidents through appropriate channels.
7. Do Not Confront Violence
We strongly advise against physically confronting groups involved in disorder.
The priority is protecting life, maintaining communication, helping vulnerable people reach safety, and ensuring incidents are reported promptly.
8. Stay Connected
- Use local community networks, residents’ groups, faith groups, and trusted community leaders to share verified information.
- Check regularly on neighbours who may be frightened, isolated, or targeted.
Our strength as a community comes from looking after one another. During difficult times, simple acts of kindness, communication, and practical support can make a significant difference to the safety and wellbeing of those around us.
Community safety begins with neighbour helping
If violence appears on your street:
1. Move everyone indoors and away from front windows.
2. Lock doors and secure access points.
3. Call emergency services immediately if lives are at risk.
4. Alert neighbours through agreed phone or messaging groups.
5. Identify a safe place to shelter or leave to if instructed.
6. Keep phones charged and maintain contact with family and neighbours.
7. Document incidents only if it is safe to do so.
8. Prioritise evacuation of children, elderly people, disabled residents, and anyone directly threatened.
9. Do not gather outside to watch events unfold.
10. Follow instructions from emergency services and local authorities.
A coordinated neighbourhood phone tree, WhatsApp group, or residents’ contact list established before trouble reaches a street is often one of the most effective things ordinary residents can put in place.
Community centres, churches and community buildings should be opened and accessible to those who need help.
RCN sends a huge thanks to those who have been working day and night on this already.
