What to do if you think you are being followed

Trust your instincts — they are usually right

Most of us have felt it at some point: a prickle at the back of the neck, footsteps that seem to match yours, a figure who keeps drifting into the edge of your vision. It is tempting to dismiss it as paranoia, especially when most UK streets are genuinely safe. But that feeling is rarely random. It is your brain picking up on details you have not consciously logged — someone walking a little too close, a change of pace, a person who turned the same corner you did.

If something feels wrong, treat it as worth acting on. The worst outcome of over-reacting is a slightly sheepish walk home. The worst outcome of ignoring it does not bear thinking about. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to explain yourself to anyone. You just need to start putting distance and people between you and whoever is making you uneasy.

The first moves: change your route and your audience

The moment you suspect you are being followed, your priority is to stop being alone with that person. Two simple actions achieve this quickly.

Cross the road. Choose a well-lit spot, ideally at a crossing, and cross over. Glance back as you do it — naturally, as though checking for traffic rather than checking on them. A genuine passer-by will carry on their way. Someone following you will often cross too, or slow down and hover. That reaction tells you a great deal, and it buys you precious seconds to think.

Head for people. Busy public places are your friend: a pub, a late-night convenience shop, a takeaway, a hotel lobby, a railway station, a supermarket, a petrol station forecourt, a lively high street. Walk in and stay in. These places have staff, lighting and usually cameras. Tell someone behind the counter what is happening — the vast majority of people will help without hesitation. You are not being a nuisance; you are doing exactly what you would want a friend to do.

Use your phone — but use it well

• Call someone you trust. A friend, partner or family member. Say clearly where you are and what is happening, and stay on the line. Being heard discussing your location and the person nearby can itself put someone off.
• Call the police if you feel in danger. Dial 999. If you cannot speak safely, call anyway and let the operator hear what is going on. For something worrying but not an immediate emergency, 101 is the number to use.
• Share your live location. Most phones let you share your whereabouts with a trusted contact for a set period. Do it while you are walking.
• Keep your phone accessible rather than in your hand. A pocket with your thumb near the screen is safer than waving it about — it keeps you alert and reduces the chance of it being snatched.

Try to look confident and purposeful. Head up, brisk pace, eyes on the street ahead rather than the pavement. Someone looking for an easy target is put off by a person who looks like they know exactly where they are going.

What not to do

Under pressure, some instincts lead us the wrong way. Try to avoid the following.

• Do not confront the person. It feels tempting and can feel brave, but you cannot predict how they will react. Turning to challenge someone escalates the very situation you are trying to escape.
• Do not go home. If you are unsure you are safe, walking to your front door tells someone exactly where you live. Head somewhere public, or to a friend's home, and let them pass.
• Do not take a shortcut through a park, alley, towpath or unlit cut-through simply because it gets you home faster. Longer and busier is safer.
• Do not assume it is nothing because the area is busy or it is only seven in the evening. These situations tend to happen on ordinary evenings, on ordinary streets.
• Do not wait for certainty. Acting early is the whole point.

Getting home safely once you feel clear

If you have lost sight of the person and feel comfortable, head home. Have your keys ready in your hand before you reach the door so you are not rummaging on the step. If you are still uneasy, ask someone to walk with you, or take a taxi or a lift — and if you take a taxi, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside.

Once in, lock up, put the chain on, and take a moment to breathe. If you saw the person clearly, note anything useful while it is fresh: approximate height, build, clothing, and the direction they went. If you caught a registration plate, write it down. Then consider reporting it, even if nothing ultimately happened. Non-emergency reports help build a picture of what is going on locally, and that picture is what shapes patrols.

Planning ahead makes the next time easier

You cannot prepare for every situation, but a little forethought carries a lot of weight. Decide in advance who you would ring, and save that number somewhere quick to reach. Tell someone where you are going and roughly when you expect to be back. Stick to main roads and lit routes at night where you can. Keep your phone charged, and consider carrying a personal alarm in your bag or pocket. Walk with purpose, and trust the feeling when it comes.

And if you do find yourself followed, hold on to the simple version: cross the road, get to people, call for help, and do not go home until you are sure. That sequence has kept countless people safe over the years. It will serve you well too.