Personal Safety and Breakaway Techniques
Practical personal safety and breakaway training that teaches staff simple, non restrictive techniques to get away safely if they are grabbed, held or assaulted. Taught in person by former police defensive skills instructors. Half day, full day or two days.
Course Overview
Even the best de-escalation does not always work. When a member of staff is grabbed, held, pushed or cornered, they need a small number of simple techniques that work under stress, are easy to remember and stay within the law.
This course teaches non restrictive breakaway techniques: getting free and getting away, not holding or restraining anyone. It covers personal safety and awareness, positioning and distance, the law on reasonable force and self defence, breaking free from common grabs and holds, protecting yourself from strikes, moving away safely, and reporting and aftercare. Every technique is practised repeatedly in a safe, controlled way, with a risk assessment and warm up for every session.
Choose the format that fits your team.
- Half day: personal safety and the core breakaway techniques.
- Full day: the core techniques plus de-escalation and scenario practice.
- Two days: extended practical sessions and scenario based drills, ideal for high risk roles.
Because it is a physical course, it is delivered in person only. Pair it with De-escalation Training for a complete approach.
This is one of our conflict courses: De-escalation Training, Conflict Management for Front of House and Customer Teams, Lone Worker Safety, Personal Safety and Breakaway Techniques, Conflict Management for Supervisors and Managers and Managing Challenging Behaviour in Education.
About the Trainer
Delivered by our own team of police instructors and former police defensive skills instructors, who teach proven police techniques and theory adapted for civilian roles. They have used these skills for real, in public order, custody and on the street, and they know what works when someone is angry, frightened or threatening. Courses are certified by 1705 Consultancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The techniques are about getting free and getting away safely. They do not involve holding, restraining or controlling anyone.
Yes. Techniques are simple and adaptable, every session includes a risk assessment and warm up, and practice is controlled and supervised.
No. Breakaway is a practical, physical course and is delivered in person only.
Yes. Staff learn the law on reasonable force and self defence, so they understand what they can do and why.
Former police defensive skills instructors from our own team, teaching proven police techniques adapted for civilian roles. Courses are certified by 1705 Consultancy.
Full day £1,350 + VAT for a group of up to 12. Half day and 2 day options are quoted. Includes travel in Essex and the surrounding counties. Travel elsewhere in the UK is quoted separately.
What Your Staff Will Learn
- Personal safety, awareness, positioning and distance
- The law on reasonable force and self defence
- Simple techniques to break free from grabs and holds
- How to protect yourself and move away safely
- How to combine breakaway with de-escalation
- How to report an incident and get support afterwards
Who Is This Course For?
- Staff in high risk and public facing roles
- Lone and community workers
- Healthcare, care and support staff
- Security officers and stewards
- Housing and enforcement officers
- Education and youth work staff
- Duration Half day, 1 day or 2 days
- Level Practical, non restrictive
- Delivery In person only, UK wide
- Delivered by Former police defensive skills instructors
- Price £1,350 + VAT per group of up to 12 (full day)
- Certificate 1705 Consultancy certificate
Upcoming course dates
No open dates are scheduled right now. We also run this course on site for teams.
Ask about dates
Ready to book?
Tell us how many people need training and where, and we will come back to you within one working day with dates and a price.