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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
an unfamiliar vehicle repeatedly circles, parks near, or watches your home or workplace

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move to a secure, occupied place and do not approach the vehicle. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress; otherwise report the repeated pattern to the police online or through 101.

Do not do these things

  • Do not go outside or move closer to investigate.
  • Do not confront the occupants, block the vehicle, or follow it.
  • Do not expose yourself at a window or doorway to obtain photographs or a registration number.
  • Do not drive directly home if the vehicle appears to be following you.
  • Do not post the registration number or accusations publicly.
  • Do not assume you know who the occupants are or why they are there.
  • Do not delete relevant doorbell, CCTV, dashcam, message, or call records.
  • Do not delay contacting the police because you have not collected evidence.

What to do now

  1. Move inside a locked, occupied building or another secure place. At work, tell reception, security, or a manager immediately.
  2. Call 999 if an occupant threatens or confronts anyone, tries to enter the property, follows someone in a threatening way, or if anyone is in immediate danger.
  3. If the vehicle appears to follow you while you are driving, keep the doors locked, do not stop to confront it, and do not drive home. Continue safely towards a busy, staffed place. Ask a passenger to call 999, or call once you can stop safely, if you believe you are in immediate danger.
  4. From a safe position, note only what you can observe without increasing your exposure. Record the time, location, vehicle colour, make, model, registration number, occupants, distinctive features, behaviour, and direction of travel.
  5. Start one dated incident log. Include each appearance, what the vehicle did, how long it remained, whether it appeared at both your home and workplace, and the names of any witnesses.
  6. Preserve any relevant doorbell, CCTV, or dashcam footage before it is overwritten. Ask your employer, building manager, neighbours, or nearby businesses to retain recordings they already hold.
  7. Report the pattern to the police online or by calling 101 when there is no immediate danger. Describe the sequence of events and any escalation rather than reporting only the latest sighting.
  8. Tell a trusted person nearby what is happening. At work, ask staff not to disclose your schedule, contact details, vehicle information, or whether you are present to unexpected visitors or callers.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the occupants, establish their motive, decide whether the behaviour is stalking, confront anyone, buy surveillance equipment, change your routine permanently, move home, or leave your job right now. Focus first on reaching safety, recording what you have observed, preserving existing footage, and contacting the police when appropriate.

Important reassurance

An unfamiliar vehicle may have an ordinary explanation, but repeated watching, circling, or waiting near places connected to you is reasonable to report. You do not need to prove who is responsible or why it is happening before contacting the police or a specialist support service.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Further safety planning or decisions about repeated unwanted behaviour may require help from the police, workplace security, or a specialist stalking support service.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal advice or professional security advice. Circumstances vary, so follow instructions from emergency services or the police.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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