Counter Terrorism Policing has published guidance for the public on what to do in the event of a firearms or weapons attack. The RUN HIDE TELL guidance was published on ProtectUK, the police counter-terrorism advice site, on 21 May 20261.
ProtectUK describes the page as "Guidance issued by Counter Terrorism Policing for members of the public about what to do in the event of a terrorist attack"1. The guidance is built around three steps, summarised on the page as: "In the event of a firearms or weapons attack, remember to follow RUN HIDE TELL"1.
The three steps, as set out by Counter Terrorism Policing, are:
| Step | What the guidance says |
|---|---|
| RUN | Escape if you can, consider the safest options and whether there is a safe route. Insist others leave with you but do not let their indecision slow you down. Leave belongings behind and do not attempt to film the incident1. |
| HIDE | If you cannot run, find cover that can withstand threats such as a knife attack or gunfire. Cover from view does not mean you are safe, and you must still hide even behind a locked door. Bullets can go through glass, brick, wood and metal, so find cover from gunfire behind solid or heavy reinforced walls. Be aware of exits, try not to get trapped, lock and barricade, move away from the door, be quiet, silence your phone and turn off vibrate1. |
| TELL | When it is safe to do so, call the police on 999. If you cannot speak or make a noise, listen to the instructions given to you by the call taker1. |
The guidance lists what the police need to know when someone calls: the nature of the incident, the location, where the suspects are, the direction they were last seen, descriptions of the attacker including numbers, features, clothing and weapons, and further information such as casualties, type of injury, building information, entrances, exits and hostages. It also says to stop other people entering the building if it is safe to do so1.
"Guidance issued by Counter Terrorism Policing for members of the public about what to do in the event of a terrorist attack."
ProtectUK also offers downloadable RUN HIDE TELL assets through a digital communications toolkit, for use by organisations and individuals1.
Why it matters for households
The guidance sets out what the police say members of the public should do if they are caught in a firearms or weapons attack, whether at a workplace, a transport hub, a shopping area or a public event. It applies to anyone present at an incident, not only to people in specific roles. The advice on silencing phones and turning off vibrate, on barricading and moving away from doors, and on what to tell the 999 call taker is directed at people sheltering during an attack1. The page does not give separate advice for households, families or children, and no further detail on that has been reported1.
The Run, Hide, Tell guide sets out the steps in more detail, and Where to Hide During a Gun or Knife Attack covers the cover and concealment points in the HIDE step. Background on attack methods is in The Terrorism Threat in the UK, and free counter-terrorism training for the public is described in ACT Awareness e-Learning. These sit within the site's major incidents section.
What happens next
No further publication or update date beyond 21 May 2026 has been reported1.
Sources (1)
- RUN HIDE TELL | ProtectUK, protectuk.police.uk
Run, Hide, Tell
UK Terrorism Threat
Where to Hide in an Attack
