If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

If you are unable to speak on the phone:

• Dial 999
• Listen to the operator's questions
• Respond by coughing or tapping the handset if you can
• When calling from a mobile, press 55 when prompted to transfer your call to the police.

If you are on campus and need immediate assistance, contact LSE Security on 020 7955 6555. 

If it is not an emergency but you do require urgent, specialist advice, please consider contacting Camden Safety Net who can support anybody who lives, works or studies in Camden, which covers all LSE students and staff.

If you have concerns regarding an LSE student who has or is experiencing domestic abuse, and may need additional / more urgent support, please signpost them to this webpage, and submit a Cause for Concern for students (Cause for Concern). 

If you have a safeguarding concern (for example, you are concerned that there may be risk of harm to a child or an adult at risk, or that someone is being subjected to a forced marriage) please follow LSE’s Safeguarding guidance. 

Risk of harm increases when you leave a relationship or a relationship ends. If you are preparing to leave an abusive relationship, Women’s Aid has guidance on leaving a relationship safely.  

For specialist advice for men or LGBT+ victims leaving their abuser, please contact the specialist helplines detailed below. 

You may be experiencing abuse if someone: 

• Tries to isolate you from friends, family or support networks
• Closely monitors or contacts you, making you feel pressured to respond immediately
• Criticises, humiliates or controls you, including what you wear, who you spend time with, or decisions you make
• Makes you afraid of their reactions or feel responsible for managing their emotions
• Invades your privacy, such as checking your phone, messages or online activity, or asking for passwords
• Pressures or coerces you into sexual activity that you do not want
• Uses physical violence or threatens to harm you
• Controls your independence, including access to money, transport, food, the internet, work or education
• Uses threats or emotional pressure, including threatening self-harm, suicide, or sharing intimate images.  

If any of this feels familiar, support is available.  

Where to find support:  

• Am I experiencing domestic abuse? | Women’s Aid 
• Recognising Abusive Behaviours | Men's Advice Line UK 
• Domestic abuse | Galop the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity 

Signs that someone may be experiencing domestic abuse can include: 

• Unexplained injuries or frequent explanations for bruises or physical marks
• Changes in behaviour, such as becoming withdrawn, anxious, distressed, depressed or isolated
• Excessive self-blame or apologising for things that are not their fault
• Reluctance to talk about a relationship or family situation or frequently defending another person's behaviour
• Constant calls or messages from a partner or family member
• Changes in appearance, routines or social habits, including cancelling plans or avoiding contact
• Financial difficulties that do not have an obvious explanation
• A partner or family member becoming unusually involved in their daily activities, study, work or social life. 

If someone has told you they are experiencing abuse: 

• Listen without judgement 
• Believe them 
• Avoid blaming them 
• Avoid pressuring them to leave, report, or take action 
• Encourage them to access specialist support.

If someone has told you they are experiencing abuse, guidance is available: They've told me what's happening – Women’s Aid.

Stalking is a pattern of unwanted, fixated or obsessive behaviour that causes fear, distress or concern.

The person stalking you might be:

• A current or former partner
• A friend
• A family member
• An acquaintance
• Someone you barely know
• A stranger.

Stalking can happen both online and offline. Examples include:

• Repeated unwanted messages, emails or calls
• Monitoring your social media activity
• Tracking your location
• Creating fake accounts to contact or monitor you
• Repeatedly appearing at places you visit
• Sending unwanted gifts
• Contacting people around you to obtain information about you.

If someone's behaviour is making you feel unsafe, frightened or anxious, it may be helpful to speak to a specialist stalking support service.

Paladin 

• Specialist stalking advocacy and support, including services for young people aged 16–24
• Website: www.paladinservice.co.uk 

National Stalking Helpline (Suzy Lamplugh Trust) 

• Advice, information and support for people affected by stalking. The Trust's resources include an online enquiry form and an 'Am I Being Stalked?' tool. 
• Phone: 0808 802 0300 
• Website: www.suzylamplugh.org 

If you're concerned about someone reading your internet or search history, please view information from Women's Aid here: Cover your tracks online.

You can also use Refuge's interactive tool to help you secure commonly used apps on your phone, laptop, or tablet: Information and support on tech abuse | Refuge Tech Safety. 

Advisers from LSE can:

• Listen and provide confidential, non-judgemental support
• Help you understand your support and reporting options
• Connect you with specialist domestic abuse and stalking services
• Refer you to relevant support within LSE
• Discuss any adjustments that may help you continue with your studies or work
• Help you think about your safety on campus, in halls, and online.

Access support at LSE through Report + Support

You can contact LSE through Report + Support if:

• You would like advice about your support and reporting options
• You are concerned about your safety at LSE
• The behaviour is affecting your studies or work
• You think adjustments may help you continue with your studies or work
• The person responsible is a member of the LSE community
• You are unsure what support is available and would like to talk through your options.

Safety planning

Safety planning is the process of thinking about your safety and creating a personalised plan to help reduce risk and prepare for situations where you may feel unsafe.

This could include:

• Identifying trusted people you can contact
• Reviewing your privacy and security settings online
• Considering practical steps to increase your safety on campus or in halls
• Planning what to do in an emergency
• Identifying specialist services that may be able to provide further support

LSE can help you with some initial safety planning and, where appropriate, connect you with specialist services for specialist advice. 

Students and staff can contact Camden Safety Net who support anyone who lives, works or studies in the Camden area, which covers all LSE students and staff. You can find a self-referral form on their webpage: Get support from Camden Safety Net – Camden Council.

Other support for LSE students and staff

• Students can access Student Wellbeing and Counselling support, including a 24/7 helpline.
• Staff can access Staff Wellbeing and Counselling support, including the 24/7 employee assistance programme
• Students and staff can access support from our specialist independent sexual violence support service if they have been impacted by any form of sexual harassment, assault, rape or abuse.

Supporting someone else

If you're concerned that a student or colleague may be experiencing domestic abuse, stalking, or relationship abuse, consider sharing this webpage with them so they can access information and support options.

Specialist support in Camden, London

Get support from Camden Safety Net – Camden Council can support anyone who lives, works or studies in the Camden area, which covers all LSE students and staff. You can find a self-referral form on their website.

National helplines and webchats

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (women)

• 24-hour support, advice and refuge access
• Phone: 0808 2000 247
• Webchat and website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Men's Advice Line

• Support for men experiencing domestic abuse
• Phone: 0808 801 0327
• Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
• Website: www.mensadviceline.org.uk

Galop (LGBTQ+)

• Specialist support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse
• Phone: 0800 999 5428
• Email: help@galop.org.uk
• Website: www.galop.org.uk

Bright Sky mobile app

Bright Sky is an app that offers information on the common signs of abuse, a short set of questions to assess the safety of your relationship, guidance on support available, conversations starters to approaching sensitive conversations with friends, family members and colleagues, a journal feature to record evidence, and information on ‘safe spaces’ in your area – available in 5 languages: English, Welsh, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu.

Image-based abuse

Revenge Porn Helpline

• Support for adults affected by intimate image abuse
• Phone: 0345 600 0459
• Website: www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk

Forced marriage

Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)

• Advice and support for people at risk of, or affected by, forced marriage
• Phone: 020 7008 0151 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
• Out-of-hours: 020 7008 1500
• Email: FMU@fco.gov.uk
• Website: www.gov.uk/forced-marriage

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

NSPCC FGM Helpline

• Advice if you are concerned someone may be at risk of FGM
• Phone: 0800 028 355
• Email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

National FGM support clinics

• Community-based services providing practical and emotional support for women affected by FGM
• Website: NHS National FGM support clinics.

Legal advice

Rights of Women offer advice lines for:

• Family law
• Criminal law
• Immigration and asylum law
• Sexual harassment at work advice.