What To Do If You Suspect You’re Being Followed

The feeling of being watched is something that most of us can relate to experiencing at some point, whether you’re commuting home after work, socialising with friends, or simply running errands.

Thankfully in the majority of cases, this feeling is just down to an overactive imagination, but what if your fears were correct? Worse still, what if you were being followed?

In this frightening scenario, instinct can be invaluable. It’s crucial to trust your senses and stay calm so you can protect yourself, get emergency help, and reach safety as quickly as possible.

In case you ever suspect you’re being followed; we’ve outlined simple steps to help you determine if you are being followed and actions you can take to protect yourself.

How to Determine if You’re Being Followed

The suspicion that you’re being followed can be deeply unsettling but staying calm and focused is essential. Whether you’re walking, driving, or using public transport, there are key behaviours and patterns to watch out for to help you determine if someone is tracking your movements.

As a general rule, remember the saying: “Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.”

• Keep an eye out for familiar faces – If the same person appears at multiple points along your route, especially in unusual or unexpected places, it could be a warning sign. Repeated sightings, especially on multiple occasions, may indicate they are intentionally following you.
  
• Watch for movement mirroring – Pay attention to people or vehicles copying your actions, such as changing direction when you do or matching your pace. A good way to test this is by taking four left turns, which will bring you back to your starting point. If the person or vehicle is still behind you, this is a strong sign that you’re being followed. If you’re driving on a motorway, you can test this by exiting at the next junction and immediately rejoining. 
  
• Pause and observe – When walking, intentionally stop and turn around, pretending to do something casual like checking your phone or tying your shoelace. Take the opportunity to look at the person you suspect is following you and watch their reaction. If they look flustered, immediately change their behaviour, or seem unnatural, this could be a sign they are tracking you.
  
• Avoid predictable routines – Regularly going to the same places at the same time can mean you’re likely to see the same people each time, even if they’re not following you. If you’re unsure, try deliberately changing your routine by changing the time, route, or method you use to reach your destinations. If the same person keeps appearing despite these changes, it’s a sign they may be following you.
  
• Trust your gut – Your intuition is often your best guide. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t dismiss it. Trust your gut and take steps to protect yourself.

What to do if You’re Being Followed

If you’ve confirmed that someone is following you, it’s vital to take quick action and stay in control of the situation. The steps you take next can help protect yourself, get help and get to safety.

Here are some steps you can take:

1. Stay calm and in control of your fears

If you suspect someone is trailing you either on foot or by vehicle, your first thought may be to panic and speed up to try and lose them. However, this could escalate the situation and make you more vulnerable, especially if you are driving.

Instead, slow down, take a deep breath, and give yourself a moment to assess the situation calmly. This will allow you to think more clearly and make safer decisions.

2. Be aware of your surroundings

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re being followed, staying alert becomes even more crucial. While it’s easy to get distracted by your phone or become fixated on the person or vehicle tailing you, it’s important to always keep your eye on the bigger picture and your wits about you. This ensures you’re prepared to respond quickly if needed and makes it harder for anyone to catch you off guard.

Pay attention to any unusual or repetitive patterns, such as pedestrians or vehicles that appear every time you change direction. If you’re walking along a road, it’s advisable to walk in the direction of oncoming traffic so a vehicle can’t come up behind you.

3. Use busy routes to your advantage

When you’re being followed, taking busy routes with plenty of traffic lights or roundabouts can work in your favour. These junctions force the person following you to stop or slow down, giving you valuable opportunities to put distance between you and them.

If possible, stick to well-lit areas and routes that you know are monitored by CCTV, such as those near more houses or businesses. Being in these areas increases the likelihood that someone will notice if you’re in distress and will be able to help you.

4. Don’t go home

No matter how you’re travelling, it’s crucial not to lead a potential stalker to your personal or work address. While your instinct may be to head home where you feel safe, doing so could compromise your privacy and long-term safety. Instead, aim to stay in a public, well-lit area where there are other people around who could assist you if needed.

5. Go somewhere public

If you suspect you’re being followed, avoid trying to lose your stalker by taking side streets or alleys, as this could leave you isolated and more vulnerable. Instead, head to a busy, well-lit area where crowds and witnesses may deter the stalker from continuing to follow or approach you.

Consider going into a busy shop, restaurant, or a designated Safe Haven and informing someone you can trust about your suspicions, such as a member of staff or security guard. Safe Havens are local businesses or public venues specifically trained to assist individuals feeling unsafe. They can help by contacting emergency services, arranging transportation, or providing a safe space until help arrives. Look for locations displaying the Safe Haven logo, or use the Safe Haven app to easily find the nearest participating venue.

At night, finding a safe space can be more challenging, but places like petrol stations or 24-hour supermarkets may be options. When returning to your vehicle, avoid walking alone if possible. Many stores have security staff who can accompany you to your car or stay with you until the police arrive if needed. Before entering your vehicle, check inside and underneath to ensure it’s safe, then immediately lock your doors.

When returning to your vehicle, avoid walking alone if possible. Many stores have security staff who can assist by accompanying you to your car or staying with you until the police arrive if needed. Before entering your vehicle, check inside and underneath to ensure it’s safe, then immediately lock your doors.

6. Don’t keep looking over your shoulder

While it’s natural to be tempted to keep glancing behind you to see who’s following, it’s best to refrain. If you’re focusing on what’s happening behind you, then you’re not fully aware of what is going on in front, making you less aware of potential hazards.

Turning around may also signal to the person following you that you’ve noticed them, which could escalate the situation or provoke a confrontation.

Instead, stay focused on your route and use reflective surfaces like shop windows or car mirrors to discreetly monitor what’s happening behind you. Keeping them unaware that you’ve noticed them can give you an advantage to plan your next move.

7. Never confront the person

Direct confrontation should always be avoided. Engaging with someone who is following you could escalate the situation, provoke them, and put you in greater danger.

It’s also possible that confronting the person following you could provide them with more information about you, such as your level of fear, or provide them with satisfaction which could make them more determined to continue following you. Instead, focus on keeping your distance and taking steps to protect yourself.

8. Let someone know where you are

9. Get professional help

If you feel under immediate threat, it’s crucial to get professional help as soon as possible. If it’s safe to do so, head to the nearest police station. If you’re unsure of its location, remain in a well-lit public area and call the police, who can guide you on what to do next.

If you’re driving, use hands-free calling to contact the police while continuing to drive in a safe, well-lit area until you receive further instructions, or pull over where you can, making sure the windows and doors are locked.

If you have a Peoplesafe app or device, you can activate a panic alarm to the Peoplesafe ARC. This will open a two-way audio channel with trained professionals who can assess your situation in real-time and coordinate directly with police control rooms, ensuring a faster response than dialling 999 in emergencies.

If the scenario described is not a one-off, it may be a good idea to invest in personal safety tools like a panic alarm for added peace of mind. Alternatively, speak to your employer about implementing a professional solution like Peoplesafe to provide robust, 24/7 protection for you and your colleagues.

For more advice on what to do if you’re being stalked, visit the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.