General public guidance

Personal Safety in London: Practical, Source-Led Advice

Straightforward steps for keeping valuables and devices secure, planning travel and knowing how to report a concern or emergency.

Reviewed by SSS Operations Team on 23 September 2026. This page provides general personal-safety information, not a prediction of individual risk or a guarantee of safety. If you face immediate danger, violence or a crime in progress, call 999. For non-emergency crime, report online or call 101.

Start with practical precautions

Personal-safety concerns vary by offence, place and time. The Metropolitan Police advises people to stay aware of their surroundings, keep phones and valuables discreet and plan travel with their circumstances in mind. Practical precautions can reduce unnecessary exposure, but no step guarantees that a crime will not occur.

When travelling after dark, consider routes with activity and good lighting where practical, plan how you will get home and use licensed or pre-booked transport as appropriate. If you feel unsafe, move to a busy, well-lit place or seek assistance.

Protect your phone and personal information

Phone theft remains an active policing priority. Police-recorded data can describe reported offences, but it cannot predict the risk for an individual person. The most useful response is to make a device less exposed and ensure you can act quickly if it is lost or stolen.

Use it briefly and stay aware

When using a phone in public, remain aware of people, traffic, bikes and mopeds around you where practical. Put the device away once you have finished.

Keep the IMEI separately

Record your device’s IMEI number somewhere other than the handset. Your phone provider can use it to block a reported-stolen device.

Secure the device

Use a strong screen lock and app protection. Enable the device’s remote-lock or location features before they are needed, if available.

Act quickly after theft

Report the crime promptly, remotely lock the device where possible, contact financial providers and the phone provider, then change sensitive passwords.

Keep routines and valuables discreet

Keep valuables close and secure in busy public places. Consider limiting unnecessary public sharing of location, travel plans, routines and sensitive personal details. Review social-media privacy settings and your digital footprint, especially if you have a specific reason to think that you face a heightened threat.

Do not infer a heightened threat from wealth, profession, postcode or public profile alone. Where someone has a specific concern, the National Protective Security Authority recommends an individual assessment of threat, vulnerability and potential impact, with a record of concerning incidents and appropriate support from police or an employer where relevant.

When to contact the police

Call 999 for immediate danger, violence or threatened violence, or a crime in progress. For other crime or concerns, use the Metropolitan Police’s online reporting route or call 101. Do not confront, pursue or attempt to recover a stolen device yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How can I reduce my exposure to phone theft?

Keep a device out of sight when it is not needed, remain aware of your surroundings while using it, keep the IMEI separately and enable available security features before a problem occurs.

What should I do if my phone is stolen?

Move somewhere safe. Report the crime, remotely lock the device where possible, contact banks or other financial providers and your phone provider, provide the IMEI so the provider can block the device, and change sensitive passwords.

Should I share my location and travel plans online?

Consider limiting unnecessary public sharing of location, routines and travel plans. Review privacy settings and remove information that is not needed publicly.

What if I believe I face a heightened personal risk?

Keep a record of concerning incidents and assess the specific threat, vulnerability and potential impact. Seek appropriate support from police and, where relevant, an employer or suitably qualified adviser. Do not rely on general online advice as a personal risk assessment.

Official sources and review

Sources checked 23 September 2026. Practical precautions are not guarantees of safety, prevention or recovery.

  1. Protect your mobile phone, Metropolitan Police.
  2. Staying safe in London, Metropolitan Police.
  3. Contact the police, GOV.UK.
  4. Understanding your level of risk guidance, National Protective Security Authority.
  5. Protective security guidance: staying safe online, National Protective Security Authority.