I’ve been repeatedly harassed on street by the same man. What steps should I take?
Posted by ContractOk8802@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 31 comments
There was a man lives or work nearby me harassed me on the street several times, I was alone and walking back home or to the post office, this man just came to me and swear to me then walked away. I'm a female, I don't want to get into a fight on street with him so I can only walk away, but it's unsettling. Is there anyway to get him caught next time? I assume police won't get involve if I don't have any solid evidence.
NaturalCollection488@reddit
Report to the police asap. He may be doing this to other women and might be on their radar. Full description age and clothing. He might also have a mental illness (not an excuse) but the level of aggression with no context for his behaviour might be indicative of him having some type of relapse. I would also be tempted to go a different route home for now. Also, if he is very threatening. Call the police immediately after the encounter.
This happened to me a while ago. It was actually awful. I reported him to the police actually via a call on my way home and never saw of him again. Coincidence I think not.
ContractOk8802@reddit (OP)
Thanks, I'll contact the police
XCinnamonbun@reddit
If he does this to you again call 999 immediately as it’s happening and report him for being aggressive and swearing at you. Emphasise any aggressive body language, him actively targeting you and the fact he’s swearing. 999 is for anything happening at that moment that requires police/ambulance/fire. Never be afraid of ringing 999, you will never get into trouble if they don’t deem it an immediate emergency. All they’ll do is just triage it as a lower priority call.
If you’d like to log past incidents call 101. I’d encourage you to do this so that there’s a record of what’s been happening so that of you do have to call 999 the operator can see that he’s potentially a bigger threat to others.
As an officer we have and do respond to people actively threatening others in the street as an emergency call. No one should feel unsafe or threatened whilst walking home/to work.
NaturalCollection488@reddit
Please do. I hope you’re okay OP. This is really so horrible and sorry that you’ve been made to feel unsafe.
lxxmng@reddit
I am sorry you are dealing with this as it is incredibly draining to feel unsafe in your own neighbourhood. You should report every single instance via the 101 website to create a paper trail. Even if they do not attend immediately: it helps build a pattern of behaviour and a profile of the offender. You can also use the Metropolitan Police StreetSafe tool to pin the exact locations where this happens. Do not engage with him directly: just keep moving toward a busy shop or pub and try to note the exact time of the incident for your reports. Safety must always come first
EmmaInFrance@reddit
If this is happening close to the post office, I'd tell the staff there about it.
They may well know who he is and they'll have a more global view of how frequently he's harrassing people.
If they do know that he's a problem, then they may also be able to contact the police and tell them just how often that he's doing this to their customers.
As everyone else has said, you should definitely report him to the police yourself, and specifically say that he's harrassing you and scaring you.
Terrible-Group-9602@reddit
At least t give the Police thd opportunity to do something about it
cold_tap_hot_brew@reddit
You can wear your phone around your neck in a lanyard and have it recording yours walk then you can show evidence of the repeated harrasment to the police.
GlastoKhole@reddit
The police, but if they don’t do anything or say there’s no evidence you could try to get evidence, do you have a boyfriend or anything who you could walk with who could confront him? Sometimes they just need a firm telling off by someone they don’t think they will cakewalk
JennyW93@reddit
This happened to me multiple times a week for 18 months. I reported it to the police, who told me I should provoke him so that he physically assaults me, so that they can do something.
I chose to move to a new city.
DaZhuRou@reddit
Wow wee the police encouraged you to get assaulted?
JennyW93@reddit
Literally told me to try and provoke him. Also told me they can’t do anything before that because shoplifting was their priority at the time. Insane.
SpamJavelin00@reddit
This isn’t just females !! I had a guy do it with me last year , heard he does it to others also. Turned out he was an alcoholic that had got to know an old man living nearby & was intimidating him for money . I don’t think he was dangerous I didn’t hear about anyone assaulted - just a crank & was hassling the old guy. He started shouting at a woman walking her dog , police arrived and we never saw him again.
SpamJavelin00@reddit
But sone Sony noise cancelling earbuds and use them every day. Just keep walking , conpletely oblivious . It has worked for me for years in avoiding neighbour gossip, aggressive beggars , harrassment from ‘charity ‘ collectors (usually a scam) etc etc. even if you see someone directly address you to your face , you can just say ‘I’m fine thanks ‘ and keep walking . ALWAYS Keep walking , never stop & engage. If anyone touches you or gets physical, that’s assault and go straight to the police , but words ?? Blank tnem out , be the master of what you allow into your ears .
JayR_97@reddit
Yeah, this is the best way to deal with these weirdos. Reacting to them in any way will just make it worse
Just blank them out and keep walking. Don't even stop and say hi when they walk up to you
ExaminationDefiant13@reddit
What has he actually said to you?
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
Just off your word alone, not really a lot you can do sadly. If you can afford it, invest in a go-pro or some kind of camera and on routes you know you’re more likely to see this guy, turn the camera on. If you catch him doing it and then take it to the police, they can then act.
Obviously if you have witnesses, other people who’ve seen these interactions then that will help too. If you feel threatened or he’s being aggressive, don’t engage with him at all.
RevolutionaryKey698@reddit
This is bad advice. The police do take action in situations like this. Someone threatening women in the street is something they take very seriously.
decisiontoohard@reddit
Seconding you. If they get more than one report it likely won't matter how little other evidence there is.
I attended a court case for a pair of women who each reported a guy coming up to them on a specific footpath, asked for directions to a specific shop, pinched them on the bum when they turned to point, laughed and ran away. Police worked with these women to find suspects and pursue it all the way to court on the basis of these two identical reports.
Always worth reporting something like this; you might be the first or you might be the tenth.
PeppercornWizard@reddit
To be fair that is more serious as it is sexual assault rather than harassment.
Competitive_Test6697@reddit
Just started suing meta glasses for work (ideal hands free when up high on ropes)
Id invest in a cheap pair of rayban metas and record with them.
EatingCoooolo@reddit
If you do nothing this person will not stop at harassment they could go on and do worse. Having evidence is not your problem just make him know to the police.
old-skool-bro@reddit
One or two steps back and either a right hook or swift kick to the balls would be my suggestion lol
TrashbatLondon@reddit
Never assume the police won’t do anything. It absolutely is a police matter and if you report it every time it happens you’re increasing the chances of them intervening. Not reporting it just means he gets to continue to do it to you and others.
laggage@reddit
Call 999
princessofdawn@reddit
Report on the app "Flare". Police use it to identity areas of concern for anything like anti social behaviour/ suspicious activity.
Cactus-Cat1@reddit
Eugh that's not nice for you, Sorry you're experiencing this 😕 I came out the corner shop the other evening around 9pm, there was a woman shouting at every car that passed, and called me a small dck prck for absolutely no reason. I'm a man, but still made me really uneasy as she was screaming and shouting 🙃
I know it may sound a bit over the top, but the only thing I can think of is wearing a small bodycam, like bouncers/police wear? I know it may seem a bit extreme, or you may feel a bit silly, but to be fair you can get them pretty small now, and you'd probably get one for 20/30quid on amazon. I think some have various mounting options like belt clips, Magnets that you can put under your top, like you would a name badge... You may even be able to clip it on your bag somehow? At least then if it persists, you have it all on cam, and can provide the police evidence of the individual?
I know it's not useful, but the only other legal thing I can think of is the red evidence spray. If they were ever to get physical, you can spray them with it, and if in the eyes it would give you a few seconds to get away... Better than nothing?
All the best 👍
Competitive_Test6697@reddit
Title says repeatedly. How many times? Anyone else know him or his mental health?
BrowsingOnMaBreak@reddit
Reading this made me also think he is a mentally ill individual (not that that makes it any less daunting to a lone woman trying to get places in one piece), and he is therefore probably known to police. A description of him and where he approached you is probably worth reporting to the police, but in terms of what they can do to stop him, I’m afraid talking to him may do very little if he is not quite with it upstairs. People can look ‘normal’ but lack capacity or have addictions etc., do you think there is a risk he will hurt you?
ContractOk8802@reddit (OP)
He looks normal, doesn't look like those who wandering on the street all day and swearing to others
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