Safe Havens in the City of London

Safe Havens offer people who are at risk or vulnerable a safe place to support their onward journey.

A Safe Haven offers water, electricity, wi-fi or a landline telephone, a way for them to contact family/friends, signposting to transport and where necessary can make phone calls to emergency services on their behalf.

The Guildhall

The City of London Guildhall has been accredited as a ‘Safe Haven’ for vulnerable people in the Square Mile.

The security and reception personnel at the Guildhall have obtained the specialist Safe Haven training from the Safer Business Network. Door and window stickers are on display to indicate that the building is a Safe Haven (like the one in the banner to this page).

Guildhall staff can help the public by contacting emergency services, friends, or relatives on behalf of anyone who feels unsafe, as a Safe Haven we can provide necessities to help relieve people in vulnerable situations, such as phone charging facilities, WIFI, access to water and toilets. To help ensure a safe onward departure.

The staff in Shoe Lane Library, Artizan Street Library and Barbican Library, along with our community centres at Golden Lane and Portsoken have also received the training and they are now active as Safe Havens.

Businesses can register to become a Safe Haven with support from the Safer Business Network and join the City of London Corporation in tackling violence in public spaces.

The Safer Business Network

The Safe Haven scheme has been developed by the Safer Business Network who support businesses across the UK to tackle crime, violence, and antisocial behaviour. Their Safe Haven scheme encourages businesses and organisations who work with the public to become registered as a ‘Safe Haven’ and provide practical support to members of the public who are in vulnerable and unsafe situations and require support and shelter.

The Safer Business Network define a Safe Haven as "a place of temporary refuge for a person to facilitate their onward journey. Whilst the Safe Haven cannot provide specialist interventions, staff can contact emergency services and/or signpost to specialist services where needed”.