Most assaults don’t start with a punch. They start with a signal. A slight change in the subject’s posture, tightening of the jaw, scanning the room. Working in security means putting yourself at risk for violence. Your safety relies on great situational awareness, and recognizing signs that someone is preparing to attack. This is not guesswork. Human behaviour is predictable. It tends to follow patterns, particularly when it comes to violence. Recognizing those patterns and signs is the key to protecting yourself and others. We call them pre-assault indicators.
The Moments Before Violence
Following an incident, guards often say things like, “It happened so fast!” The perception that the attack came without warning shows a lack of awareness during the moments leading up to the violence.
The reality is that the subject did not go from calm and relaxed to assaultive in one step. There would have been signs. Sometimes they are subtle, sometimes they are quite obvious. The key is for security guards to recognize them when they see them, and take action in advance of the assault.
Key Pre-Assault Indicators to Watch For
There are common, and predictable behavioural patterns that preceded physical violence. Sometimes there will be several, other times maybe only one or two. The important thing is to recognize them for what they are. Keep a close eye out for:
- Target Glancing
The subject focuses on specific parts of your body. Common targets are:
- Your chin.
- Your torso.
- Your hands.
- Your radio, or other equipment.
What it means: They are assessing where to strike, or what to grab.
Scenario:
You are speaking with a subject in a quiet area, out of view of your colleagues. You notice that the subject keeps looking at your radio, then back to your face. The pattern repeats several times. It’s likely that the subject is considering how to prevent you from calling for help.
- Blading the Body/Shifting Stance
An effective assault requires stability. This means that the subject will likely adjust their stance so that their dominant leg is slightly behind them. This results in a blading of their body, where one shoulder is more forward than the other. Look for the hands to rise above their waist as well.
What it means: They are stabilizing themselves in order to deliver strikes, or to defend themselves.
Scenario: You ask a subject to leave the store. In response, they shift into a bladed stance and say, “Are you going to make me?” This shift in position indicates that they are preparing for a physical interaction.
- Clenching and Unclenching Hands
Always watch the hands. I repeat…Always watch the hands! They are the primary tool used to grab, strike, and utilize weapons. They are also very telling when it comes to assessing intention. There may also be visible clenching in the jaw. Watch for:
- Hands curling into fists.
- Clenching and unclenching.
- Raising the hands towards their face.
- Tightening of the jaw.
- Grinding teeth.
What it means: Adrenaline is beginning to flow through their body, as it prepares to fight or flee.
Scenario: During a verbal dispute, the subject stops talking and begins to open and close their hands repeatedly, while their breathing becomes heavier. They are unconsciously limbering up in preparation for a physical confrontation.
- Sudden Silence
One minute the subject is loud and defiant, then suddenly…silence. This abrupt reversal in behaviour is often not intentional. It is what commonly happens when they have arrived at the moment of decision.
What it means: High levels of stress have a negative effect on our capacity to think clearly and make thoughtful decisions. When the mind tries to focus on the internal thought process, their body tends to lose focus and quiet down.
Scenario: A subject has been loudly defiant, and making threatening comments. Suddenly they stop speaking and just stare at you. What may at first look like the beginning of cooperation may really be the calm before the storm.
Always assume that any sudden silence means an attack may be imminent.
- Invading Personal Space
You’re careful to maintain a reactionary gap, but the subject steps towards you. Distance equals time, and time is on your side when it comes to reacting to an attack. Invading your personal space may look like:
- Stepping closer.
- Refusing to step back when directed.
- Leaning forward.
What it means: They are getting into a striking position. The closer they are to you, the quicker they can strike out. As your reactionary gap shrinks, your ability to effectively respond to the attack is reduced.
Scenario: You notice that the subject is becoming increasingly agitated, so you take a few steps back, increasing your reactionary gap. The subject notices and takes a few steps forward. You direct them to step back, but they refuse. This behavior is a strong signal that they are positioning themselves for an attack.
- Grooming Gestures
The stress and anxiety felt by the subject can induce unconscious “grooming” gestures. You may observe behaviours such as:
- Pulling up sleeves.
- Repeatedly touching and/or rubbing the face and head.
- Adjusting and/or pulling at clothing.
What it means: In part, grooming gestures are ways of self-soothing when under stress. They may also represent preparation, by loosening restrictive clothing, freeing up access to weapons, etc.
Scenario: A subject begins unbuttoning their sleeves. You’ve also noticed that they have been running their fingers through their hair repeatedly. These behaviors may represent both soothing and preparation.
- Scanning
While speaking with the subject you notice that they keep looking around. They look past you; to their left and right; behind their back. It doesn’t seem casual, it looks purposeful. They are checking for things like:
- Entry and exit points.
- Other people (witnesses, potential interference).
- Cameras that might record the assault.
- Weapons for items within reach.
What it means: They are planning their attack, as well as calculating their probability of success. Assaulting someone is a big risk. The potential injury, legal repercussions, and poor optics are all legitimate concerns.
Scenario: As you’re speaking with the subject, you notice that they keep looking over your shoulder, then back to you, then back over your shoulder. You know that the exit is behind you, and that your backup will be arriving through that door any minute. The subject knows this too. If they’re going to act, the clock is ticking.
- Threats and Cautionary Verbals
What the subject is saying, and how they’re saying it matter. Listen for menacing comments, or outright threats. They often precede violence. Statements such as:
- “What are you going to do about it?”
- ”I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
- ”Say that one more time…I dare you!”
- ”Don’t come any closer!”
Pay attention to changes in their paraverbals as well. Their tone may shift, their volume may increase or decrease, and their cadence may slow down. How they speak is just as important as what they say.
What it means: It is unlikely that the subject is actively looking for a fight. It’s more likely that they consider it a means to an end. Threats and cautionary verbals are intended to achieve their objective by frightening you into backing off. This way they will not need to fight.
Scenario: You inform the subject that if they will not leave the property voluntarily, they will be escorted out by security. The subject replies sarcastically, “I’d certainly like to see you try.” This is a thinly veiled warning that they are prepared to resist any attempt at physical removal.
Reading the Signs
The eight pre-assault indicators provided are only a selection of what you might see. Often they come in pairs or clusters, rather than one single indicator. The bigger the cluster there is, typically the higher the risk. Although not an exact science, this is a great “quick and dirty” assessment tool in the field.
You may notice clusters of pre-assault indicators such as:
- Target glancing and stance shifting.
- Silence, followed by an attempt to enter your personal space.
- Hands clenching and unclenching while the subject utters verbal threats.
They may even come in threes or more. Tension in the neck and jaw, combined with grooming gestures, and scanning, while rocking back and forth. The most important thing is to be actively watching for pre-assault indicators, and be ready to act when you see them.
What To Do When You See Pre-Assault Indicators
Recognition is useless without action. When you see pre-assault indicators, you need to respond quickly. Time is likely not on your side.
Create Space: Distance buys you time, and may discourage attack.
- Take a few steps back and keep at least a 6-foot reactionary gap.
- Maintain an interview stance, with your body bladed and your hands up (but open).
- Keep the subject’s entire body in view, and pay attention to their body language.
The more space there is between you, the longer it takes for them to get to you. This time enables you to recognize what’s happening and get your body moving in response. Also, many assaults happen when the attacker notices that the guard is within arms reach, or has their hands down. Distance decreases the likelihood of success, and often discourages the subject from even trying.
Utilize Tactical Positioning: Never stand directly in front of the subject. This is the shortest path between the two of you. Instead:
- Step slightly to the left or right of the subject’s centre. This is known as the interview position.
- If the subject wants to attack, they will first need to reposition themselves for a straight-line approach. This adds more time, and provides you with an additional prompt that something is about to happen.
Tactical positioning is one of the simplest and most effective safety strategies. Unfortunately, time and time again guards forget, and find themselves squared up, which is right where they want you.
Use Clear, Calm Commands: Nothing complicated. Keep it simple:
- “Stop.”
- ”Stay where you are.”
- ”Do not come closer.”
- ”Take a few steps back.”
Your paraverbals matter as much as your words. Your tone should project both calm and control. A guard who looks and sounds assertive is more likely to gain compliance in a situation like this. A guard who sounds frightened or uncertain only encourages the subject to follow through.
Be Prepared, Don’t Panic: This is where training and experience come in. As you recognize that you may be about to be attacked, you should be:
- Mentally preparing yourself to respond physically.
- Applying good situational awareness, by identifying the nearest exit, possible items to use such as chairs and tables to create barriers.
- Call for backup early, and be ready to respond as a team.
The safest way to protect yourself is to disengage. However, that is not always the best option, or even an option at all. If you can’t disengage, then you need to be prepared to engage in some way. Having a strong foundation in safety strategies, and self-defense will give you an advantage when faced with violent individuals.
Disengage When Appropriate: There is an old joke that goes, “The best way to avoid being hit in a bar is not to be in a bar.” Seems obvious, makes good sense. However, sometimes you need to be there. Maybe you’re the bouncer, and it’s your job to protect the other patrons and staff.
When appropriate, disengaging should rank high on your list of response options. You don’t come to work to get hurt. However, your job is to protect others from harm as well. In the end, it’ll come down to your judgement as to whether disengaging is the best option.
In Summary
Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts for Pre-Assault Indicators.
DO
- Watch their hands, feet, and eyes.
- Maintain a reactionary gap (6-foot minimum)
- Watch for clusters of pre-assault indicators.
- Act early when indicators appear.
- Use clear, simple communication.
- Be assertive and confident.
- Move to an interview position, to the left or right of the subject’s centre.
- Call for help at the first signs of trouble, not when you actually need the help.
DON’T
- Ignore or dismiss small changes in behaviour.
- Assume calm equals safe.
- Let the subject dictate distance.
- Focus only on the subject’s words, ignoring their paraverbals.
- Stand directly in front of the subject.
- Rush in without assessing the situation for risk.
- Let your ego and emotions drive your decisions.
Very few assaults are truly spontaneous. There are almost always clues. The sooner you spot pre-assault indicators, the more control you will have over the outcome, and the safer everyone will be. Like everything, safety skills must be learned and developed. That’s why great training is so important. SecurityGuardCourse.ca offers a variety of accessible training programs to help you develop your skills, and keep yourself safe on the job!
References
Blue Sheepdog. (n.d.). Pre-attack indicators. https://www.bluesheepdog.com/pre-attack-indicators/
Ti Training. (2025, June 20). Pre-attack indicators: A training guide to reading body language for law enforcement. https://titraining.com/blog/pre-attack-indicators/