Be an upstander, not a bystander
Discover how to be an upstander to challenge inappropriate behaviour and prevent crime.
Upstanders are people who actively intervene when they see injustice, bullying, or discrimination, rather than passively watching it take place.
This involves you picking the most appropriate approach you feel comfortable with, depending on the situation, who is involved, and how confident you feel.
There are no right or wrong answers in how to choose to respond; the only wrong option is to be a bystander and do nothing.
The 5 Ds
- Direct – Take action by speaking up in a polite and calm manner, if you feel confident enough to do so
- Distract – Intervene by distracting attention elsewhere, perhaps say something that supports the positive aspects of the conversation
- Delegate – Identify someone who can support you or who is in a better position to help. For example, call 999 in an emergency
- Defer – Take action later by speaking to the perpetrator at another time, or making an online crime report
- Document – Record the incident if it is safe to do so, ensuring the documentation supports the victim’s account. Always offer the footage to the victim rather than sharing it publicly
Intervention training
Bystander intervention training is available to support night-time businesses, such as bars, restaurants or nightclubs, by:
- providing practical interventions to improve the safety of women and girls in public spaces
- combating violence against women and girls
- raising awareness of the new Worker Protection Act
The training is supplied by Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Night-Time Economy Solutions.