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UK
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USA
What to do if…
someone repeatedly appears at places you regularly go and you suspect stalking
Short answer
Move into a busy, staffed place and call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, a crime is happening, or the person is actively following or approaching you and you fear immediate harm. Otherwise, tell someone you trust, keep contact with the person to a minimum, and report the pattern to the police on 101 or online when you are safe.
Do not do these things
- Do not confront, challenge, threaten, or follow the person.
- Do not go somewhere isolated to test whether they are following you.
- Do not travel directly home while you believe they may be following you.
- Do not arrange a private meeting to demand an explanation.
- Do not delay asking for help while trying to collect perfect proof.
- Do not delete relevant messages, voicemails, photographs, or records.
- Do not put yourself at risk to photograph, film, or identify the person.
- Do not post your current location or immediate plans publicly while you feel at risk.
What to do now
- If the person is nearby, enter a busy shop, station, reception, workplace, or other staffed place. Tell a member of staff that you feel unsafe and ask to remain there while you contact help.
- Call 999 and ask for the police if you or someone else is in immediate danger, a crime is happening, or the person is actively following or approaching you and you fear immediate harm.
- If it is not an emergency, report what has been happening to the police by calling 101 or using the police online reporting service. You do not need to collect evidence before making a report.
- Contact someone you trust. Tell them where you are, what is happening, what the person looks like, and where you intend to go next. Ask them to stay on the phone, meet you, or help arrange safe transport.
- Do not travel directly home while you believe you are being followed. Stay somewhere populated and ask police, venue staff, transport staff, or a trusted person for help leaving safely.
- Once you are safe, write down what you remember about each appearance, including the date, time, place, behaviour, vehicle details, and possible witnesses. Save relevant messages or images without taking further risks.
- Tell staff at places you regularly attend, such as your workplace, college, gym, or reception desk, if you feel comfortable doing so. Ask them not to confirm whether you are present or share your schedule.
- Contact the National Stalking Helpline for specialist information, support, and safety-planning advice. You can contact the helpline whether or not you have reported the behaviour to the police.
What can wait
You do not need to decide now whether every sighting was deliberate, whether the behaviour legally amounts to stalking, or what long-term changes to make. A complete incident log, firm proof, decisions about moving, and decisions about formal protective measures can wait until you are safe and have appropriate support.
Important reassurance
Repeated unwanted appearances are reasonable to take seriously, even when you are uncertain what they mean. It is not your fault, and you are not wasting anyone’s time by moving to safety, telling someone, contacting a specialist service, or reporting the pattern to the police.
Scope note
This guide covers immediate first steps only. Later decisions about reporting, workplace safeguards, technology, housing, or protective measures may require support from the police, a specialist stalking service, or another appropriate professional.
Important note
This is general personal-safety and legal information, not individual legal, security, or professional advice. Use your judgement about immediate danger and contact the emergency services when urgent help is needed.
Additional Resources
- GOV.UK — Report a stalker
- Police.uk — What to do if youre being stalked or harassed
- Police.uk — How to report stalking or harassment
- Police.uk — Stalking harassment support organisations
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust — National Stalking Helpline
- Police Scotland — Stalking and harassment
- PSNI — Stalking and Harassment
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.