The Disability Interest Group of Salisbury (DIGS) has launched the Red Cord Campaign, calling for an end to the widespread and dangerous practice of tying up or shortening red emergency pull cords in accessible toilets.
Red emergency cords are designed to reach the floor so that a disabled person can call for help in an emergency, including after a fall, sudden illness, or loss of strength.
However, across public buildings, shops, venues, and council facilities, these cords are frequently found knotted, looped, or fixed out of reach.
DIGS warns that this practice places disabled people at serious risk and undermines their ability to use public spaces safely and independently.
“Red cords are not decorative, and they are not optional. They are a critical safety feature,” said a spokesperson for DIGS. “When they are tied up, disabled people are effectively left without a lifeline. This is not a minor issue — it is about safety, dignity, and equal access.”
The Red Cord Campaign highlights that tying up red cords often stems from misunderstanding, poor maintenance practices, or attempts to prevent misuse. However, such actions can result in accessible toilets becoming unsafe and unusable for the very people they are intended to support.
DIGS is calling on:
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Local authorities and council leaders
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Businesses and venue operators
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Public sector organisations
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Community groups and residents to ensure that all accessible toilets under their responsibility have red emergency cords hanging freely to the floor, as designed and intended.
The campaign also urges organisations to review their accessibility checks, staff training, and maintenance policies to prevent cords from being altered in the future.
“Accessibility is not achieved by good intentions alone,” the DIGS spokesperson added. “It requires understanding, accountability, and action. Leaving a red cord hanging freely is a simple step that can save lives and send a clear message that disabled people are valued.”
DIGS encourages members of the public to report tied or inaccessible red cords and to raise the issue with building owners and local representatives.
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