Here’s guidance on when not to get directly involved if you receive a report or notice concerning someone stalking or watching young children:
1. Do not confront the person
- Never approach your ex (or the suspected individual) directly.
- Confrontation may escalate the situation or put children, yourself, or the reporter at risk.
2. Do not investigate on your own
- Avoid following, monitoring, or recording the individual outside of factual reporting.
- You are not the investigator—authorities are trained to handle these cases safely.
3. Avoid discussing with others unnecessarily
- Do not talk about the situation with mutual friends, family, neighbors, or on social media.
- Sharing speculation can complicate investigations and potentially create legal issues.
4. Do not assume intent
- Do not label behaviour as “malicious” or “predatory” in your own words.
- Stick to facts observed or reported: who, what, when, and where.
5. Do not try to intervene with children
- Do not tell children to “watch out” or confront the adult yourself.
- Intervention can increase risk and may confuse children.
6. When to take action
You should act indirectly by:
- Documenting the report and observations factually
- Forwarding the information to authorities or safeguarding officers
- Following instructions from authorities regarding next steps
Rule of thumb:
Your role is receiver, recorder, and reporter. Direct involvement or confrontation is unsafe and unnecessary. Let police, child protection services, or designated safeguarding staff handle intervention.
