Fortis Personal Safety Training

20/06/2026

I'll be here today creating awareness about my courses. Why not come down and have a chat? There's lots to do and entry to the event is free!

27/05/2026

Why not come down to Suttons Primary School Summer Fayre on Saturday 20th June? Lots to do, and I'll be there running mini self defence taster sessions!

26/05/2026

Situational awareness is not about living in fear.

It is about recognising what is happening around you early enough to make safer decisions, avoid unnecessary risks, and create time, distance and options when it matters most.

Personal safety very often starts long before any physical confrontation.

15/05/2026

Excellent guidance on the key principles around protecting your property.

How Far Can I Go to Defend My Property?

This question comes up quite often during conversations.

Some responses are thoughtful and measured.

Others are, let’s say, very interesting.

I'm sharing this information as a useful reminder around self-defence, reasonable force, and how these incidents are viewed in England and Wales.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Police have produced guidance to help better understand:
- The self-defence rights for householders
- How incidents involving force are investigated
- The difference between instinctive self-defence and excessive retaliation
- Why people acting in fear are not expected to make perfect decisions in the heat of the moment

Importantly, self-defence investigations are not based solely on hindsight.

A key consideration is what the person honestly believed was happening at the time and whether the force used was reasonable in the circumstances as they genuinely perceived it to be at that time.

This is where issues such as fear, perception, stress, confusion, and decision-making under pressure can become highly relevant.

The guidance also reinforces important themes around:
- Fairness
- Proportionality
- Public trust
- Decision-making under pressure

One area many people still struggle with is understanding the difference between:
- Reasonable force
- Disproportionate force
- Excessive force (ie; retaliation)

These distinctions do matter.

Many incidents are judged calmly afterwards, even though they were experienced in chaotic moments.

Wherever you work, this is an important topic to understand.

Do you think the public properly understands where lawful self-defence ends and unlawful retaliation begins?

Read the CPS and Police guidance here:
https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/householders-and-use-force-against-intruders

12/05/2026

I recently completed another Children's Personal Safety Course in Hornchurch, Essex. I had an awesome group of kids who really focused during the training and asked some great questions. Congratulations to everyone who completed the course!

19/04/2026

Minimum Force Is Not a Legal Test

You’ll often hear:
“Staff must use minimum force.”

It sounds right.

It feels safe.

But legally… it isn’t the test.

The law requires force to be:
“Reasonable and Necessary”

That is a very different standard.

Because in reality:
• Too little action can increase risk
• Delayed action can lead to harm
• Hesitation can escalate situations

“Minimum” is a concept.

Reasonableness is a judgement based on the circumstances at the time.

For example, that judgment depends on:
• Awareness of risk
• Confidence under pressure
• The ability to make decisions in real time

Not just compliance with policy wording.

Often, staff are taught what to say…but not how to think.

Taught rules…but not reasoning.

Yet when incidents are reviewed, scrutinised, or challenged it is the decision-making rationale that is examined.

Not whether someone tried to achieve “minimum force.”

So, the question is:
Do your staff understand how to justify their actions legally and professionally?

If not, that’s where the real risk sits.

If you’re reviewing your approach to restrictive interventions, use of force, decision-making, or staff competence, I’m happy to share how we support organisations in building legally defensible practice.

14/04/2026

Walker Smith, 54, who worked for retailer for 17 years, says he grabbed bag from thief before they escaped

06/03/2026

Particularly relevant as this trend has appeared targeting Havering schools.

Police promise "robust action" against anyone acting on posts challenging schools to fight in teams.

04/03/2026

Absolute truth.

Most people focus on what they would do if something happened.

Very few focus on noticing the early signs before it does.
Awareness is your greatest personal safety protection.

01/02/2026

Midway through a children’s self defence course today at Thames Chase, Upminster.