A new report reveals that half of adults feel less safe in Britain than they did ten years ago. The report highlights fears among Brits of becoming involved in an emergency situation, such as crime, acts of terror or extreme weather events.
This fear has deterred many from visiting major cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester, with busy public areas like concerts or sports events being avoided by six out of ten people due to safety concerns.
The survey, conducted by Audiebant, polled 2,000 adults and found that 75% believe crime levels, including knife-related incidents and terrorism, have increased in recent years.
The report also revealed that over a third are uncomfortable with their children going out alone, while 30% feel unsafe walking alone in their local area after dark, a figure that varies significantly between women and men (42% of women and 17% of men).
Specific areas where adults have felt uneasy include underground car parks (36%), train stations (27%) and nightclubs (22%). Surprisingly, 10% have even felt unsafe in hospitals, citing critical incidents across the UK.
The survey was commissioned by communication brand, Audiebant, ahead of the introduction of Martyn’s Law legislation, named after victim Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
A proposed new law, part of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, is expected to take effect later this year. It will mandate that venues with a capacity exceeding 200 have a contingency plan in place in the event of an attack.
A spokesperson for Audiebant stated: “People shouldn’t have to live in fear.But unfortunately, in 2025 there is so much that feels out of our control right now.
“This research shows many are not only afraid, but also unaware of their best course of action during lots of different potential emergency situations.”
Currently, only 49% of individuals are confident that they would know where to seek safety in the event of a public emergency, such as in a shopping centre.
The Audiebant spokesperson emphasized that in a public emergency, remaining calm and following instructions is ‘absolutely vital’. Many public spaces have emergency protocols in place that utilize Public Address (PA) systems to provide updates.
“The latest emerging technologies mean existing public address systems can easily be upgraded into zoned and automated multi-lingual systems to enable everyone, wherever they are, to receive the right instructions at the right time, reducing casualties and saving lives.”
