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UK
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USA
What to do if…
the person who sexually assaulted you appears unexpectedly at your home, work, or an event
Short answer
Move towards other people or into a secure place, avoid engaging with the person, and ask someone you trust or nearby staff to stay with you. Call 999 if a crime is in progress or anyone is in immediate danger, including if the person is trying to force entry, threatening or attacking someone, or preventing you from leaving.
Do not do these things
- Do not go outside or into a private area to speak with the person.
- Do not open a locked door because they demand a conversation.
- Do not confront, follow, restrain, or move closer to the person.
- Do not put yourself at risk to take photographs or collect information.
- Do not let pressure to be polite override your need for distance.
- Do not share your location or immediate plans publicly.
- Do not feel that you must decide now whether to report the original assault.
What to do now
- Reach the nearest safer pause. At home, keep the door locked and move away from the entrance. At work or an event, go to a staffed, secure, or busy area.
- Call 999 if a crime is in progress or anyone is in immediate danger. Tell the operator where you are and what is happening now.
- If you cannot speak during a 999 call, listen to the operator and respond by tapping or coughing if you can. If prompted while calling from a mobile, press 55 to be put through to the police.
- Ask one specific person to stay with you. At work or an event, ask reception, a manager, the organiser, or security to keep the person away and not reveal where you are.
- Avoid direct contact. Do not answer the door, approach the person, or respond to demands to talk. Let police, security, venue staff, or a trusted person handle any immediate communication.
- Do not leave alone while the person is nearby. Ask someone you trust or a staff member to accompany you to a secure room, transport, or another safe place.
- If children or dependants are with you, ask a trusted adult or staff member to remain with them and move with you to the safer area.
- Once you are safe, if you choose, make a brief note of the time, place, what the person did or said, and who was present. Do not return or take risks to gather more information.
- Contact a specialist sexual violence service for confidential support. You can seek support without deciding whether to report this encounter or the original assault.
What can wait
You do not need to decide now whether to report the original assault, make a formal workplace or venue complaint, move home, leave your job, confront the person, or explain the full history to anyone nearby. Legal, employment, housing, healthcare, and longer-term safety decisions can wait until you are away from the person and have support, unless someone needs urgent medical care.
Important reassurance
An unexpected encounter may leave you frightened, frozen, shaky, confused, or unable to speak. These reactions do not mean that you agreed to the contact, and you do not owe the person a conversation. Your immediate priority can simply be distance, support, and a safer pause.
Scope note
This guide covers immediate first steps only. Later decisions about reporting, workplace arrangements, venue action, housing, protective options, healthcare, or ongoing support may require help from a specialist sexual violence service or another qualified professional.
Important note
This is general information, not legal, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Call 999 if a crime is in progress, someone is in immediate danger, or urgent medical help is needed.
Additional Resources
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.