The aim of the study was to examine if and how the social service and the social welfare secretary provides against threat and violence in the encounter with clients. The study is qualitative and carried out with six semi-structured interviews with social welfare secretaries and participation observations at the social welfare offices in three municipalities. The theoretical starting points used were symbolic interactionism and strange loops. The result shows that social service and social welfare secretaries both use measures to prevent threat and violence to occur. The precautionary measures mainly used by social services are ; looked doors, alarm device, loose objects removes and interview rooms are furnish in purpose for the social welfare secretary to flee the room at urgent need. Measures used by the social welfare secretary where focusing on their manner of behaving in their encounter with clients. Some of the important factors where to act respectful, professional, calmly, honestly and to posses`knowledge. The result also shows that measures such as looked doors, removing loose objects and the use of alarm device might be perceived by clients as insulting, provocative, a feeling of being inferior and losing control of their situation. The study implies that an increased knowledge of if and how the surroundings and the precautionary measures used by social service affect clients. The aim should be to create a more open then closed social service office.