How To Follow Someone

Step 1: Disguise

When following someone, the key is to look inconspicuous. Forget every spy film you have ever seen. Just wear normal, drab colours like greys or greens. You want to blend in, not stand out.

A disguise may be appropriate if the person you are following knows you. Pavel and Mimi go way back. She is usually blonde, so the black bob is to throw him off the scent. And she has disguised her incredible eyes with some huge shades.

Step 2: The follow

Following someone on the street without them picking up on it is a tough art to master. You need to consider their pace, how busy the environment is, and where they are heading. Plus you need to be able to react fast to a change in any of these variables.

You need to stay at least ten metres from your target at all times.

Step 3: Look busy

You should not stare intensely at your target all the time. Only glance up at your target every so often, just enough to keep them in sight. You must look busy - check your watch, make fake calls on your phone, pretend to read a newspaper, that sort of thing. But never get engrossed in any of these activities. Window shopping is a great way to follow someone who travels slowly, and is a convincing reason to be on the street, as it looks innocent.

And stop skulking around these parked cars like a spy would in a film. Wrong! This will get you spotted. Just be cool, and casual like everyone else on the street.

Step 4: If they stop

Be ready for your target to stop. If they do so, keep walking past them. Turn the next corner casually. Then, set yourself up to look back at them without being seen.

This manoeuvre is high risk. It's imperative you aren't seen at this point. As your target starts walking again get out of sight. Let them walk past, give them a distance of at least ten metres, and then carry on following them as before.

Step 5: Dealing with buildings

If your target wanders into a building, you need to think quickly. Find a spot on the other side of the road from the building, but that is not directly opposite. Choose somewhere that gives you viewing access to the building entrance, but keeps you away from the windows.

Step 6: Being spotted

As we said earlier, we don't really want to know why you feel moved to follow someone. But perhaps you should think about your motives. Is all this hassle really worth it?

Why not just use your natural charm to find out what you want to know - face to face.