Personal safety
Find personal safety tips and advice for when you’re out and about. Learn how our community safety initiatives reduce crime.

Staying safe in Brisbane
The safety of our residents and visitors is a top priority.
While Brisbane is a safe place with a relaxed, subtropical lifestyle, crime can still occur.
Follow our tips to stay safe when out and about in our city.
Safety out and about
Maintain your personal safety as you enjoy Brisbane.
Be prepared
- Plan your routes to and from your destination.
- Choose routes in well-lit, populated areas.
- Identify safe spots along the way. This might be a friend's house or a local shop.
Be aware
- Stay alert to your surroundings. We recommend removing your headphones if walking alone.
Trust your instincts
- Remove yourself from situations that make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Be heard
- If someone threatens or attacks you, yell for help and make noise to draw attention to yourself.
Preparing for a night out
To prepare for your night out:
- charge your phone
- tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
- organise safe transport
- keep your valuables out of sight
- avoid excessive drinking
- be careful around intoxicated groups and avoid confrontation.
Keeping our parks safe
Council is committed to ensuring our parks and playgrounds are safe spaces for everyone.
We're aware of growing concerns about anti-social behaviour, drug use and community safety risks linked to tent encampments in our parks. We're working with the Queensland Government to deliver a coordinated and supported response for vulnerable members of our community.
Homelessness is a serious and complex issue. We're committed to connecting vulnerable people with housing solutions/support, while maintaining the safety of our parks and playgrounds.
Camping in Council parks and public spaces is not permitted under the Public Land and Council Assets Local Law 2014. We can remove and store items (such as tents) that people have unlawfully placed on Council land. Local laws prohibiting camping in parks have been in place in Brisbane for nearly 100 years.
Our priority is to connect those in need with services and help them access support from Queensland Government agencies.
Council always takes a compassionate approach to homelessness and there is no blanket move-on order. However, if an individual does not engage or refuses assistance, Police can move them on.
We will remove unused tents to prevent the creation of more dangerous encampments in parks and playgrounds.
Brisbane has the best lifestyle in Australia and we’re determined to keep it that way.
While crime is a Queensland Government issue, we’re doing what we can to make our parks and playgrounds safer. This includes operating a network of more than 3750 safety cameras across Brisbane.
These cameras are vital in preventing bad behaviour, helping police investigations, safeguarding Council assets land ensuring public safety.
We determine CCTV locations in consultation with Queensland Police Service (QPS) and our community safety partners. The cameras connect to Council’s Safety Camera Network and our 24/7 Security Operations Centre monitors them. Council works closely with Police to monitor and respond to any incidents identified.
Find out more about CitySafe closed circuit television footage.
You can support our efforts to keep Brisbane's parks safe by:
- contacting the 24/7 Queensland Government's Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 553 if you see someone in need
- donating essential items like toiletries, non-perishable food and clothing to Council's Homeless Connect events.
Community safety initiatives
Your safety is our priority. We work with community groups on social strategies to reduce the causes of and motivations for crime.
Report it
It’s important that you report any suspicious or dangerous activity.
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
Police
For other non-urgent crime or incidents, contact Queensland Police Service on 131 444. You can also contact a police officer or station through the Contact Queensland Police Service form.
Queensland Police Service also have a messaging service that allows deaf, hearing impaired and vulnerable people to contact them for non-urgent matters.
Crime Stoppers
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have any information that might help solve a crime. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Callers who wish to remain anonymous are not required to give their names or addresses.
For more information, visit Crime Stoppers Queensland.
Frequently asked questions
Brisbane is a safe and vibrant 24-hour city. For insights on a specific suburb, you can use our community profile tool to generate a report.
Use the ‘crime and justice’ filter to assess the safety of an area.
To ensure you’re safe and aware on our bikeways:
- sound your bell if you're a cyclist before passing pedestrians to warn them of your approach
- acknowledge other path users by giving a quick 'hello' or 'thank you' when passing
- keep left when cycling and walking on footpaths and shared paths
- be conscious of other path users and behave in a confident, but non-threatening, manner to reassure others around you
- make sure you understand bikeway signage and rules.