1. Talk to someone
   
   The most important thing is to tell someone. Stalking thrives on secrecy - if people know they can help to keep you safe. You can contact the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 for advice about your options and safety planning.
   
   To report incidents to the police, call 101, but if you ever feel in danger, call 999 immediately.
   
   
2. Record what’s happening
   
   Keep a log of any incidents and any evidence you may have. A log can help you and support services see if your situation is escalating and better understand if there is a pattern of behaviour. Importantly, if you report to the police it allows them to see that these are not isolated incidents.
   
   Please remember that you do not need to have made a log or have collected evidence to make a report to the police – it can help make the situation clearer to them, however the police only need to have a reasonable belief that a crime has taken place to investigate.
   
   
3. Take digital safety seriously
   
   About 40% of people who contact the National Stalking Helpline have experienced some form of cyber or digitally-enabled stalking.
   
   We advise you to:
   
   • Ensure your devices have not been compromised – if your stalker has ever had access to your phone or any other device, or you think they may have been hacked turn the device off immediately and seek professional advice
     
     
   • Review your privacy settings on all social media, and encourage friends and family to do the same
     
     
   • Review your online presence by typing your name on search engines to see what information is available to the public
     
     
   • Change email, social media and bank account passwords regularly, and ensure than security questions can’t be guessed or are answers your stalker could know
     
     
   • Ensure yourself and friends and family don’t post pictures / details online that can reveal your location or information about you
     
     
4. Vary your routine and use a buddy system
   
   If you are being followed, watched, or think your stalker may engage in those behaviours then we often we advise victims to look at ways that they can vary their routine to increase safety. For example, changing the route you take to and from work as well as leaving and arriving at different times.
   
   We often advise people experiencing stalking to implement a buddy system with a trusted friend or family member so someone else is always on alert should you not arrive somewhere when you are expected to. A buddy system involves letting someone know whenever you are going somewhere, who you are meeting (if appropriate), when they should expect you to check in, and what to do if you do not check in with them.
   
   
5. Call the police
   
   If at any point, you feel unsafe we would advise that you call 999. We want the police to be on board in these situations and on board as early as possible. We know that the sooner there’s some form of formal intervention the sooner it’s likely to stop. We know that stalkers don’t generally stop on their own.
   
   
6. Seek emotional support
   
   Experiencing stalking is very distressing and we always recommend that people try to get some emotional support to cope with their situation. If you want to get some support then talking to your GP can be a good first step, or you can contact the Samaritans any time on 116 123 if you just need someone to talk to.

If you are being stalked, you can complain to the police or apply for an injunction and damages through a civil court.

To get in contact with the police, either go to your local police station, or call the non-emergency number and make an appointment. It might help to write down what has happened to you and take that with you as well as any questions you may have so that you don’t forget anything you want to include.

If your partner’s behaviour is fixated or obsessive, and their behaviour forms a course of conduct which causes you fear distress or alarm, this meets the definition of stalking regardless of your relationship.

However, many stalking behaviours that take place in a relationship are methods of coercive control. It may also be difficult to pursue a criminal charge of stalking regarding behaviours during a relationship due to the need to show that behaviours are unwanted.

We would advise victims of stalking to keep a diary of all incidents, seek support from their local domestic abuse or specialist stalking service and report to police.

Just because your stalker hasn’t threatened you does not mean that you are not at risk from them. Assessing risk in stalking situations is complex and risk can dramatically escalate at any time.

Risk is not solely defined as risk of physical violence – although this can be a very real danger in stalking cases. Stalking also causes psychological trauma to victims, and the risk of this should not be underestimated.

Recording all incidents may help you to see if the stalkers behaviour has changed and whether the situation has escalated.

Please contact the National Stalking Helpline for specialist advice around risk and ways of minimising it.

We would advise victims of stalking to remain vigilant and report all incidents to the police.