Calling the police often feels like the right thing to do. We’re taught to see them as protectors, problem-solvers, de-escalators and, if we’re honest, as people who are paid to deal with situations we don’t want to face ourselves. But in reality, involving the police often does more harm than good. Even the most well-meaning officer isn’t the right person to handle a mental health crisis, a noisy neighbour, or a fox stuck on a roof. Police involvement can escalate situations, increase harm, and leave people feeling more vulnerable. And instead of resolution, it often leads to months, or even years, of stress, uncertainty, and legal limbo.
There are many steps you can take before calling the police- steps that reduce the risk of unnecessary criminalisation and take pressure off already overstretched police services. This blog introduces just five of those steps. If nothing else, I hope they get you thinking about what the police are actually for and help you pause the next time your finger hovers over 9.
And yes, since I know my mum will be reading this, there are situations where calling the police is necessary. This blog isn’t about moments of immediate or serious harm, though even then, some of these steps might help you think differently. We haven’t yet transformed society enough to make policing obsolete. But the current system makes it feel like there are no other options. I want you to know: more often than not, there are.
1- Check your biases. Before you phone the police because something seems “suspicious,” take a moment to think. Ask yourself: What exactly about this situation is suspicious? Am I being guided by internalised bias? Is this person’s race, gender, class, age, or housing status influencing my judgment? Can I think of other, non-suspicious reasons for their behaviour?
We’re often taught not to be passive bystanders when harm occurs, but we rarely talk about the harm caused by acting on prejudice. The fear of ignoring something “just in case” is often greater than the fear of falsely reporting someone. But if you’re going to call the police, you should be prepared to explain precisely why and be sure your reasons go beyond a feeling.
2- Gather information. We live in a world where, for some people, police involvement causes more harm than good. Never assume you understand what’s going on. A simple “Are you okay?”, “Can I help?” or even “Do you want me to call the police?” can go a long way.
You might be misreading the situation, or police involvement may not be what the person wants or needs. If someone is being a nuisance but not causing harm, such as a neighbour playing loud music or a young person spray-painting a fence, can you approach them directly? A calm, non-aggressive conversation can not only resolve the issue but also start to build more connected, trusting communities.
3- Consider the alternatives. Before calling the police, think carefully: What exactly do I want them to do? Is there another service better suited to helping? Many situations, such as mental health crises, housing insecurity, domestic violence, or lost pets, have alternatives: crisis helplines, soup kitchens, animal shelters, community safe spaces, local councils, or health services. Learn what’s available in your area.
Better still, build community skills. Get trained in first aid, self-defence, de-escalation, negotiation, counselling, or animal handling. If those resources don’t exist locally, consider helping to bring workshops into your community.
4- Contact your pod. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us formed “pods”- small groups of people committed to mutual care and support. In transformative justice, the idea is similar: a trusted network of people you can turn to in moments of harm or crisis.
Your pod might include someone you can call while walking home at night, a neighbour whose house you can visit, someone who knows how to de-escalate a tense situation, or a friend with specialist knowledge. They might offer practical help, or emotional or spiritual support for you or someone else in distress. Consider whether there is anyone in your pod who you can contact instead of the police.
5- Go to them. If you decide the police need to be involved, ask yourself: Can I go to them, rather than bringing them here? Can you visit the station to make a report or speak to an officer in person on the street?
Dialling 999 often triggers a rapid and sometimes disproportionate response. Things can escalate quickly, especially when the person involved is from a marginalised or over-policed group. Going to the station gives you more control, helps you stay calm, and protects your community from unnecessary confrontation. If it’s not an emergency but still requires police attention, consider documenting the situation and reporting it later, once the situation is safer and clearer.
If this blog scared you, then I want you to think about why. First, did your mind immediately go to the worst-case scenario? So often, abolitionist or transformative justice is met with the ‘what about murder?’ question. However, most of the time, we aren’t calling the police for this. We have been taught to fear getting it wrong, as if not calling the police might get us in trouble. The police feel similarly- if they don’t respond with force and something goes wrong, they have to live with that feeling too. A significant part of this fear stems from our inability to handle conflict effectively and our lack of trust in others.
I'm often asked how we can begin the work when the rest of the world isn’t on board. Well, this is it, it starts with us.
References:
Thank you to these resources for inspiring some of the points mentioned above.
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