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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
a stranger will not leave you alone after you disengage or say no

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

Short answer

Move towards other people, staff, security, or a busy public place and ask a specific person for help. Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger or the stranger is threatening, touching, blocking, chasing, or trying to force you somewhere.

Do not do these things

  • Do not stay to explain, debate, apologise, or persuade them.
  • Do not let politeness stop you from moving away or attracting attention.
  • Do not move into an isolated place to avoid embarrassment.
  • Do not enter a lift, vehicle, doorway, alley, or other confined place with them.
  • Do not lead them to your home, workplace, car, or another place you regularly use when you can safely avoid it.
  • Do not confront, insult, film, or physically challenge them if doing so could increase the danger.
  • Do not accept a lift, drink, item, or request to use your phone.
  • Do not delay getting to safety in order to collect evidence.

What to do now

  1. Move towards a staffed, busy place such as a shop, café, hotel reception, station help point, ticket barrier, security desk, or group of people. Stay where others can see you.
  2. Address one person directly. Say something clear such as: “This person will not leave me alone. Please stay with me and call the police.”
  3. Call 999 and ask for the police if you or someone else is in immediate danger, a crime is happening, or the stranger is threatening, touching, cornering, blocking, chasing, or trying to force you somewhere. Give your location as clearly as you can.
  4. If you call 999 from a mobile and cannot speak, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted. A silent call by itself does not automatically tell police where you are or that you need help.
  5. On public transport, move towards the driver, conductor, guard, station staff, a help point, or other passengers. State plainly that someone is following or harassing you.
  6. If the stranger continues to follow you, avoid going home when you can safely do so. Enter another busy venue and remain with staff or other people.
  7. Contact someone you trust. Tell them where you are, what the stranger looks like, and where you are moving. Ask them to stay on the phone or meet you inside a staffed place.
  8. Once you are safe, note the time, place, description, words used, direction of travel, vehicle details, and any witnesses. Keep relevant messages, photographs, or recordings that already exist, but do not return or take risks to obtain more.
  9. When there is no immediate danger, you can report the incident to police online, by calling 101, or at a police station. You do not need to decide whether the behaviour is legally stalking or harassment before asking for help.

What can wait

You do not need to work out the stranger’s motives, choose a legal label, make a formal complaint, post about the incident, contact nearby businesses for footage, or plan future security changes while you are still unsafe or unsettled. First reach a safer place and connect with another person.

Important reassurance

You are allowed to leave, seek help, make noise, enter a business, or interrupt someone nearby. Saying no or disengaging was enough; you do not owe the stranger further conversation, explanation, or courtesy.

Scope note

This guide covers the earliest safety steps only. Repeated unwanted contact, threats, injuries, stalking concerns, transport incidents, or worries about being found at home or work may require help from police, a specialist stalking service, transport staff, your employer, or another appropriate service.

Important note

This is general personal-safety information, not legal or professional advice. Use your judgement about the safest available option and contact emergency services when there is 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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