If you see individuals fighting in a public space, what should you do?

When confronted with individuals fighting in a public space, it is important to prioritize safety and manage the situation effectively. The choice to separate the individuals and gather statements individually is justified because it allows for a de-escalation of the conflict. By creating distance between the parties involved, you can help reduce the immediate risk of harm and prevent the situation from escalating further.

Gathering statements individually is also crucial in such situations, as it enables you to collect accurate information while ensuring that each person's perspective is understood without the influence of the others. This approach helps in assessing the facts more clearly, which is essential for understanding the context and deciding on the appropriate actions that may need to follow, such as issuing citations or making arrests.

Other actions, like joining in the fight, could potentially increase chaos and put you in danger. Ignoring the situation fails to address the conflict and could allow it to escalate, potentially leading to serious injury to those involved or bystanders. Calling for backup and waiting might be necessary in certain dangerous scenarios but does not proactively address the immediate conflict, which needs to be managed promptly.