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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone is lingering or waiting for you in a lobby, corridor, stairwell, or entrance

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

Short answer

Pause before entering or approaching the person. Move to a busy or staffed place, keep your distance, and call 999 if someone is in immediate danger, violence is threatened, or a crime is happening.

Do not do these things

  • Do not enter the confined area to find out whether the person is waiting for you.
  • Do not confront, challenge, or question them.
  • Do not try to squeeze past them in a corridor, doorway, lift, or stairwell.
  • Do not walk directly to your flat, room, workplace, or vehicle if that would reveal your destination.
  • Do not move closer to take photographs or video.
  • Do not return alone merely because the person appears to have moved away.
  • Do not let embarrassment or concern about seeming impolite stop you from seeking help.
  • Do not delay calling 999 if the person threatens you, uses violence, blocks your exit, follows you, or tries to force entry.

What to do now

  1. Move to the nearest safer pause, such as an open shop, staffed reception, security desk, occupied workplace, or busy public area. Keep a clear route away from the person.

  2. Call 999 and ask for the police if you believe the situation could become violent very soon, someone is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening. Give your location, the building entrance or floor, and a brief description of what the person is doing.

  3. Tell reception, security, a concierge, building staff, or nearby workers that someone appears to be waiting for you. Ask to remain near them and request an escort or a safe place to wait if available.

  4. Contact someone you trust. Tell them your exact location and ask them to meet you at the staffed or public place rather than entering the corridor, stairwell, or lobby alone.

  5. Avoid showing the person where you live, work, or intend to go. Stay in the safer place while you arrange another route, an escort, or police assistance.

  6. If the person moves away, ask staff, security, or a trusted person to check the route from a safe position before you continue. Do not follow the person into a quieter area.

  7. Once you are safe, note the time, location, appearance, words, movements, direction of travel, and any vehicle details you remember. Do not put yourself at risk to collect more information.

  8. If the behaviour appears targeted, repeated, or connected to earlier incidents but there is no immediate emergency, contact the police on 101 or report it online. You do not need to gather photographs, messages, or other evidence before making a report.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now why the person is there, whether the behaviour is stalking or harassment, or whether to confront them later. Complaints to building management, changes to routines, security purchases, housing decisions, and other longer-term steps can wait until you are safe and supported.

Important reassurance

You do not need proof of someone’s intentions before stepping away, delaying your entry, or asking for help. Taking your concern seriously does not mean you are accusing the person of a crime.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Repeated or targeted behaviour may require later support from the police, building management, an employer, a landlord, or a specialist stalking service.

Important note

This is general personal-safety information, not legal advice or professional security advice. Circumstances vary, and emergency services or people responsible for the building may give instructions based on the situation. Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.

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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