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uk Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
someone follows you or blocks your exit on public transport

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

Short answer

Move towards transport staff, a help point, or a busy group of passengers without forcing your way past the person. If they are preventing you from leaving safely, threatening or touching you, or you believe you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Do not do these things

  • Do not confront, threaten, argue with, or film the person.
  • Do not force your way past them if that would bring you closer or increase the danger.
  • Do not leave at an isolated stop merely to test whether they follow you.
  • Do not try to leave a moving vehicle, force doors open, or enter tracks or roadways.
  • Do not let uncertainty or embarrassment stop you from asking staff or another passenger for help.
  • Do not use the British Transport Police 61016 text service instead of 999 when urgent help is needed.

What to do now

  1. Move towards a safer pause. Go towards the driver or conductor area, transport staff, a staffed station area, a help point, or several other passengers. If your exit is blocked, step back and keep as much distance as you safely can.

  2. Call 999 if the person is stopping you from leaving, threatening or touching you, continuing to follow you nearby, or you believe harm may be immediate. Give the operator your route, direction of travel, current or next stop, and any vehicle or carriage number you can safely identify.

  3. If you cannot speak during a mobile 999 call, listen to the operator, respond by coughing or tapping if you can, and press 55 when prompted. Remaining silent without responding may cause the call to end.

  4. Tell a specific member of staff or passenger what is happening. Say clearly that someone is following you or blocking your exit, and ask them to stay with you, alert the driver or conductor, or call 999.

  5. If you cannot reach staff or make a call, use a station help point or an onboard passenger alarm or intercom where one is available. Follow staff instructions and stay away from tracks and roadways.

  6. If you can safely choose where to leave, use a busy or staffed stop. Go directly to staff, police, or a public place with other people rather than somewhere isolated or directly home while the person remains nearby.

  7. For a non-emergency incident on the rail network in England, Scotland or Wales, you can text British Transport Police on 61016 with what happened, where it happened, and the time. For buses, roads, or public transport in Northern Ireland, contact the local police on 101 once you are safe.

  8. Once you are separated from the person, remain with staff or other people and contact someone you trust. Call 999 again if the person reappears or the danger becomes immediate.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether the behaviour was stalking, harassment, another offence, or a coincidence. Writing a full account, making a transport complaint, changing future journeys, and making any non-urgent report can wait until you are somewhere safe.

Important reassurance

You do not need proof of the person’s intentions before moving away or asking for help. Your immediate task is only to create distance, reach other people, and bring staff or emergency services into the situation.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Reporting, complaints, travel changes, and legal questions may require help from the police, the transport operator, a support service, or a legal adviser later.

Important note

This is general personal-safety information, not legal or professional security advice. Follow instructions from emergency services and transport staff where it is safe to do so.

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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