Personal safety

Brisbane is a safe and vibrant 24-hour city. Our friendly and welcoming attitude, beautiful subtropical lifestyle and culturally diverse population, makes us a great city to visit and live in.

Like any big city, crime does happen. The safety of all residents and visitors is a major priority for Brisbane City Council.

It's important that residents and visitors take their own personal safety seriously and are aware of their personal safety at all times.

Simple safety tips

  1. Be aware
    • Stay alert to your surroundings, including traffic and people, at all times.
    • Consider removing your headphones or putting your phone away whilst walking through busy areas and crossing roads.
  2. Be committed
    • Be committed to your safety. Maintaining your safety is your responsibility and priority.
  3. Be prepared
    • By thinking ahead and having a plan, you can increase your safety.
  4. Trust your instincts
    • Listen to, trust and act on your instinct. If something makes you feel unsafe, choose a course of action to maintain your safety.
  5. Be confident
    • Walk and conduct your activities confidently and with purpose.
  6. Report it
    • As soon as it is safe to do so, report any incident to police.
    • If you need Police, Fire or Ambulance in an emergency, call triple zero (000). It is considered an emergency:
      • if a crime is happening now
      • when a life is threatened
      • when the event is time critical, for example, a fire.
    • Policelink 131 444 is the number in Queensland to report non-urgent crime or incidents (24 hours, 7 days). It is considered a non-urgent crime or incident:
      • if it is not life threatening
      • if the crime is not happening now
      • there is little likelihood of the suspected offenders still being in the area.
    • Call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 (toll free) if you have any information that might help solve a crime. Callers who wish to remain anonymous are not required to give their names or addresses. This number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit the Crime Stoppers website.

Visit the Queensland Police Service website for further information about personal safety and preventing crime.

For more tips and information on staying safe in Brisbane, download:

Staying safe in Brisbane at night

Helpful organisations

These organisations offer help and advice on personal safety issues.

Bikeways 

Bikeway signage

To improve bikeway safety, Council introduced comprehensive bikeway signage on a section of Kedron Brook bikeway as a trial.

Between Everton Park and Grange, the following signs have been installed:

  • distance markers on the bikeway path
  • directional signage and markers highlighting exit points
  • 'You are here' maps   

These measures will help cyclists and walkers to:

  • better determine their location on the bikeway 
  • help users report incidents more accurately, especially those people who are not familiar with the area

Also, trees and bushes will be trimmed to improve visibility along bikeways. Council plans to roll out similar signs across the pathway network of Brisbane. Read more information on bikeway safety.

Bikeway safety and awareness

Create a safe and friendly environment:

  • cyclists: sound your bell before passing pedestrians to warn them of your approach - give enough warning so they know to move to the left and to show you aren't 'sneaking up on them'.
  • acknowledge other path users by giving a quick 'hello' or 'thank you' when passing.
  • keep left when cycling and walking on our footpaths and shared paths - this helps to minimise the chance of a collision and allows users to overtake/ pass safely.
  • be conscious of other path users - behave in a confident but non-threatening manner to reassure others around you.

Group active and healthy activities

If you do not want to exercise alone, Council runs the following active and healthy group activities:

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Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.