Be an active bystander

Many of us will have seen inappropriate or harmful behaviour or harassment towards others. It can happen in the workplace, in school settings, on public transport, in pubs or bars or in public spaces like the street or in parks.

When such incidents occur, we can be active bystanders, challenging this behaviour and supporting victims.

Being an active bystander means recognising when someone is experiencing harm and choosing to safely intervene.

If you witness harassment or concerning behaviour, you can step in using one of the following techniques known as the five D’s:

  • Distract: Creating a distraction can interrupt the behaviour of the perpetrator and give the victim the chance to move away from the situation. You could drop something, strike up a conversation with the victim or perpetrator by asking them for the time or for directions or by pretending to know them or create a minor commotion like spilling a drink to divert the perpetrators attention. Distraction can often be enough to de-escalate a situation.

  • Delegate: Tell someone in a position of authority like the bar or security staff in a pub, a teacher in an educational setting or the bus driver or other employee if on public transport and ask them to step in. You can also ask a friend or another member of public to see they if they are willing to help - this can be a safer, more effective way to intervene.

  • Direct action: Approach the situation, condemn the perpetrator's actions and tell them to stop. Be firm, calm and polite and keep it short and to the point. Then turn your attention to the victim, ask them if they are okay and seek to remove them from the situation. Direct action can carry risks so always assess your safety and the situation before intervening.

  • Document: Film or take notes of the incident. Only document if someone else is already helping the victim and it is safe to do so. Once the situation has passed, ask the victim what they would like to do with the footage and support them to report the incident to the police should they wish to. Never post the footage online without their permission.

  • Delay: If you are unable to intervene while the incident is occurring, perhaps because it is too dangerous for you to do so, wait for the situation to pass and check in with the victim when they are alone to offer support and to let them know that you saw what happened and it wasn’t okay.


Your approach to incidents of this kind will depend on the situation, where you are and who is involved but being an active bystander can deescalate harmful situations and reduce the impact on victims.

Remember only to intervene if it is safe for you to do so.

If you think someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has produced a short video explainer on the 5D’s.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust regularly delivers free 30-minute active bystander training for individuals and organisations covering the 5D’s.

We all have a responsibility to stand up for each other and call out harmful behaviour when we see it.