Personal safety on a night out

Everyone has the right to safety and a life without fear. There are simple things each of us can do to help prevent crime and stay safe.

Here are some steps you can take to help keep yourself, your family and your community safe.

Staying safe on a night out

Look out for each other and take some simple precautions to help ensure a safe and enjoyable night out for you and your friends.

Plan your night

Prepare for your night out and keep your family or friends updated with your plans.

• Charge your phone and take a portable power bank with you.
• Take your ID, phone and enough money for food and transport.
• Write down your friends' phone numbers, in case you lose your phone.
• Leave other valuables at home or at your accommodation.
• Take the name, address and phone number of your accommodation with you.

Travel safely to your destination

Ensure you have safe transport to and from the venue before leaving:

• Check public transport times before leaving so you don’t have to wait at the platform.
• Nominate a designated driver if necessary.

Drink safely and within your limits

You are more vulnerable to violence and accidents when you’ve had too much to drink. Alcohol affects everybody differently so get to know your personal limits and stick to them.

• Eat substantial food before and while drinking.
• Drink slowly and drink water throughout the night.
• Never mix alcohol and drugs.
• If you can’t remember how many drinks you’ve had, it’s time to slow down.

Beware of others when drinking.

• Never drink and drive or get into a car driven by somebody who has been drinking.
• Never accept a drink you haven’t seen the bar staff pour.
• Don’t leave drinks unattended and keep an eye on your drinks and your friends’ drinks.
• Remember that even soft drinks can be spiked.

For more detailed information and assistance visit:

• Drink spiking
• DrinkWise Australia

Public drunkenness

Being drunk in a public place is no longer a criminal offence in Victoria. This means that a person cannot be arrested or placed in a police cell because they are intoxicated in public.

Victoria Police can only intervene with people who are drunk in public if there is a community safety risk or a crime is being committed.

Find out more about the Public intoxication reform.

Take care of your friends

Chat with your friends about how you'll look after each other on a night out. Staying together and looking after one another is one of the best ways to stay safe.

• Stop your friends from getting into fights.
• Walk away from dangerous or conflict situations and take your friends with you.
• Don’t leave friends alone with somebody they’ve just met. Stay together.
• Recognise when a friend has had too much to drink and encourage them to slow down.
• Never leave someone who is drunk or passed out. If someone passes out, hits their head or gets punched, call for an ambulance on Triple Zero (000).

If you feel unsafe on a night out

If you are travelling home by yourself, ring a trusted person and talk to them until you are safely home.

• Protective services officers (PSOs) are on platforms and trains until the last train.
• Notify police of unwanted sexual and anti-social behaviour on public transport by texting ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455.

Report to police

If you are in danger, need to report a crime in progress, or request immediate police attendance, call Triple Zero (000).

Communication assistance

If English is not your first language, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them your language. They will connect an interpreter.

If you are Deaf, have a hearing impairment, or have speech or communication difficulties, you can use the National Relay Service (NRS). You must register to use this service. For more information visit National Relay Service (NRS).

Non-emergency crime incidents

You can report some non-urgent crime and events anytime, anywhere by calling our Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or submitting an online report.

Examples of non-urgent crimes and events include:

• theft (including theft of a motor vehicle)
• property damage
• lost property
• general police enquiries and more.

You can also contact your local police station.

Crime Stoppers Victoria

If you have any information about a crime, criminal activity, or hoon behaviour, you can confidentially report what you know:

• visit Crime Stoppers Victoria online
• call Crime Stoppers Victoria at 1800 333 000(opens in a new window).