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 North and West Wing are accredited as a ‘Safe Haven’ for vulnerable people in the Square Mile.

Security and reception staff at the Guildhall have received the specialist Safe Haven training to facilitate this. 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 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, and access to water and toilets. This is part of our support 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 Our Safer City and their partners the Safer Business Network and join the City of London Corporation in tackling violence in public spaces.

Our Safer City

Safe Havens are part of Our Safer City – an initiative of the City of London Crime Prevention Association (CoLCPA). The mission of Our Safer City is to tackle violence against women and girls and domestic abuse by bringing together partner organisations to create a framework which can ultimately be adopted across the country. 

Our Safer City says: “Safe Havens offer people in need or reassurance an environment where they can feel safer until they are ready to continue their journey. A wide range of premises are already involved including offices, shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, as well as churches and libraries.”