Stay safe online

Anyone with access to your device may be able to see where you have been. Use a device the other person cannot reach, such as a library computer or a trusted friend's phone. Quick exit opens The Weather Channel, but does not erase your history or hide activity from monitoring software. Private browsing does not make a monitored device safe. Clearing history or changing settings may be noticed, so consider your safety before acting.

Change passwords from a safe device, using three random words for each account, & turn on two step verification. Check which devices are signed in & remove ones you do not recognise. Check recovery email addresses & phone numbers, since an old one can hand someone quiet access.

Review location sharing on your phone & in your maps, photos, & family sharing apps. Look for apps you did not install, unexpected battery drain, or shared logins on smart speakers, doorbells, & car apps. Removing tracking software can alert the person who installed it, so plan for that before you act.

Save messages, emails, call logs, & screenshots with dates & times, & keep a copy somewhere the other person cannot reach. A simple dated log of incidents is often the most useful evidence there is, particularly for stalking & coercive control.

Police non emergency: 101. National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300. Refuge national domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247, free & twenty four hours. Victim Support: 0808 168 9111. In Scotland, Scotland's Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234. Report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland. The National Cyber Security Centre publishes free guidance at ncsc.gov.uk.

This guide is general information. If you need advice about your own situation, speak to a solicitor, a support service, or contact us at dylyn@findharbour.co.uk.