Observe. Report. Protect.
Unusual behaviour isn’t necessarily dangerous. Don’t try to identify a “suspicious” person: observe facts, how they evolve, and their context.
1. OBSERVE
Watch for an unusual or concerning change in behaviour, in particular:
- growing agitation, anger or frustration;
- threats, intimidation or violent language;
- repeated refusal to respect set limits;
- increasingly insistent or confrontational behaviour;
- seeking access or a person for no clear reason;
- behaviour that may suggest preparation for, or moving toward, an act.
A single sign isn’t enough to draw conclusions. It’s the accumulation and evolution of facts that matter.
2. REPORT
WITHOUT INTERPRETING
Don’t try to determine whether someone is “dangerous” based on their appearance, personality, the way they look at you, or how they dress.
Describe what you saw or heard, not what you think of the person.
“He threatened to come back tomorrow” rather than “He had suspicious behaviour.”
3. PROTECT
If dialogue is possible, use the ResponsAbility de-escalation principles:
Stretch time → Be approachable → Listen actively → Build tactical empathy → Co-build a solution → Manage resistance.
Stay calm, keep a sufficient distance, and don’t respond to provocation. You don’t have to resolve, on your own, a situation that goes beyond your role.
3.1. ALERT
If in doubt, or if things worsen:
- warn a colleague or your manager;
- use the alert system set up by your organisation;
- pass on precise facts: who, what, where, when, how it’s evolving;
- ask for backup rather than staying alone.
3.2. IF THE DANGER BECOMES IMMINENT
De-escalation is no longer the priority: protection is.
Move to a safe distance, protect people who are exposed, and alert emergency services according to your organisation’s procedures and local emergency services.
3.3. AFTER THE INCIDENT
Report the facts, even when they didn’t lead to physical violence. Analyse what happened and what can be improved.
Safety doesn’t rest on one person’s intuition, but on a collective ability to observe, report, and act.