“He Keeps Following Me”: Two Calls, Same Fear—Do Protection Orders Really Keep You Safe?

Two separate calls to Portsmouth police in a matter of minutes raised a troubling question many people quietly ask: when someone won’t leave you alone, does a protection order actually protect you? Tires Slashed, Messages Sent Officers were first called to Rally’s after a woman reported a man was following her and that she believed he had slashed her tire. The woman told officers the man is someone she knows—not a former partner—but someone who has repeatedly messaged her trying to get her attention. She said she had blocked him after receiving threatening messages in the past. Recently, the man allegedly messaged her telling her to “check her tires.” Shortly after, she discovered one tire had been slashed. The woman declined to file a criminal report for the damage. Officers advised her about the protection order process and explained that if the behavior continues, documentation could support menacing by stalking charges. She also told officers the man has shown up at her workplace and sat nearby, watching her. Another Woman, Same Pattern Just minutes later, police were called again—this time by a woman who said her ex-boyfriend has been following her from job to job. She told officers the man had been outside her apartment and that she’s been dealing with ongoing problems for about a month. She said she has seen him follow her to and from work and send threatening text messages. Officers spoke with the man in the parking lot of the Hudson House and advised him. The woman was encouraged to: Seek a protection order Contact PMHA about having him trespassed from the property Call police immediately if the behavior continues So… Do Protection Orders Work? Police can advise, document, and intervene—but without an active protection order or a chargeable offense, their options are limited. Protection orders can: Create legal consequences if violated Give police clearer authority to act Establish a documented pattern of behavior But they are still pieces of paper, relying on enforcement after someone crosses the line. That’s the uncomfortable reality many victims face. We Want to Hear From You Have you ever had a protection order? Did it help—or did the behavior continue anyway? Did you feel safer, or just more frustrated? These two calls show how quickly “unwanted attention” can slide into fear—and how often people are left wondering whether the system truly keeps them safe. Share your thoughts. The conversation matters.

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