PanicStation.org
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uk Personal safety & immediate danger someone keeps approaching my family • suspicious person at playground • being followed at the park • stranger won’t leave us alone • repeated unwanted approach in public • person hovering near my children • targeted at playground with kids • family being watched in public • creepy behaviour in the park • harassment at playground • feeling unsafe at a park • stranger trying to talk to my child • person returns after being told no • playground safety concern • park encounter won’t stop • possible stalking in public place • unsafe stranger around family • play ground stranger approach

What to do if…
you suspect someone is targeting you at a playground or park by repeatedly approaching your family

Short answer

Move your family to a busier, more “staffed” place and leave the area if you can. If you feel in immediate danger or the person won’t stop, call 999.

Do not do these things

  • Do not stay put to “avoid making a scene” if your gut says it’s unsafe.
  • Do not let your children move out of arm’s reach while you decide what to do.
  • Do not confront the person alone, follow them, or try to physically block them.
  • Do not argue or explain personal details (names, school, routines, where you live).
  • Do not post about it publicly in real time (it can reveal your location).
  • Do not assume you need “proof” before you can ask for help.

What to do now

  1. Create distance immediately (without drama). Gather your children close, pick up bags/coats, and move toward a busier area (near the café, park office, entrance, or a cluster of other adults). If you can, leave the park and go somewhere public and staffed.
  2. Keep children “inside your body line.” Put yourself between the person and your children. If you have a buggy, keep it on your side (not between you and the exit). Hold hands or use a firm “stand right next to me” instruction.
  3. Use a short, clear boundary line once. In a normal voice: “Please stop approaching us. Do not speak to my children.” Then stop engaging. Your goal is not to convince them — it’s to make your boundary obvious to any witnesses.
  4. Bring another adult into it. Approach a nearby parent/group and say: “I don’t feel safe — can you stay with us while we leave / while I call the police?” If there’s staff/wardens, go directly to them and ask them to stay with you while you exit.
  5. Decide whether this is 999 or 101 (or online).
    • Call 999 if you feel in immediate danger, the person is escalating, won’t let you leave, is trying to separate a child from you, is making threats, or you think a crime is in progress.
    • Call 101 (or report via your local police website) if you’re safe now but the behaviour is repeated and concerning, and you want advice or to log/report it.
    • If you can’t safely talk, still call 999 and stay on the line; the operator can guide you.
  6. Note details while you’re moving away. Quickly note (on your phone) time, exact location, what they did/said, description, and any vehicle details (make/model/colour/registration) if visible. If it’s clearly safe, you can take a photo/video from a distance — but don’t do anything that slows your exit or provokes them.
  7. If the park has CCTV or staff, ask for practical help. Ask staff/wardens to (a) walk with you to the exit, (b) note the incident in their log, and (c) tell you whether CCTV covers the area and how footage is requested/retained (police may need to request it).
  8. After you’re away, write a short incident log. As soon as you’re calm enough, write 5–10 lines: what happened, where, when, who was present, what you said, and what the person did next. If it happens again, this record helps you report a pattern clearly.

What can wait

  • Deciding whether this “counts” as stalking or harassment — you can still report repeated unwanted approaches.
  • Trying to identify who the person is or why they’re doing it.
  • Writing a long statement or searching laws online.
  • Posting warnings on local groups or confronting the person publicly.

Important reassurance

It’s reasonable to treat repeated unwanted approaches around your family as a safety issue. You are allowed to move away, involve other adults, and contact the police even if you’re not 100% sure what the person intends.

Scope note

These are first steps for the next minutes and hours — to create distance, get support, and make a clear, usable report if needed. If the behaviour continues over days/weeks, you may want specialist advice and a longer safety plan.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe you or your children are in immediate danger, call 999.

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