SafeZone at Strathclyde

What is SafeZone?

Whenever you need support, the SafeZone app allows you to send location-based alerts to the University's Security team from your mobile device with just the tap of a button You can use SafeZone for help with:

  • Emergencies: if you're in a situation that's making you feel unsafe
  • First aid: First aid assistance for yourself or someone else while on campus
  • Check in: If you are studying or working late on campus, use the check in feature to let the security team know you're still in a building This is particularly useful and recommended if working late or studying 'out of hours'
  • Tip reporting: If you see something suspicious on campus, you can report this quickly and easily using the tip reporting tool. You can choose to share your contact details or to do this anonymously and even send a photo
  • Wellbeing Assistance: Details of support services for students and staff. Talk confidentially to a counsellor through our 24/7 Student Helpline or Employee Assistance Programme

  1. Download from Google Play or the App Store (search SafeZone)
  2. Open the app and enter your University of Strathclyde email address (for example aaa.bbb@strath.ac.uk)
  3. Log in with your University of Strathclyde credentials (the normal password you use to access your emails). This should pre-populate your email address, name and surname automatically.
  4. Add your mobile telephone number (mandatory) and photo (optional) and click ‘sign up’

Once signed up, the app will ask you to review permissions. This will include allowing the app access to:

  • your location
  • your phone's Bluetooth functionality
  • display notifications (so you can receive emergency alerts)
  • physical activity access (this is optional and works for fall detection)

If you have any issues with installation, you can check the SafeZone help pages.

  • The app, which is monitored 24 hours a day by our Security team, enables you to request help in different ways depending on the situation. 
  • Emergency: press the red button for emergency support. You can either talk to Security via phone or via a messaging service. You can also use this to go straight through to local emergency services.
  • Wellbeing: press this to see what wellbeing assistance is available to you.
  • Help: this button is for non-urgent support
  • Check-in: this lets Security know you are on campus so in an emergency scenario, such as a fire, they will know if you are in need of assistance.
  • Check In Timer: press this if you are lone working. If you don’t extend or cancel the check-in, Security will know to check up on you to make sure you are okay. If you fall whilst checked in, your mobile phone should send Security alert so they know to come and help you.
  • Tip Reporting: if you see something that worries you on campus, use this button to let the Security team know. This includes suspicious activity, vandalism or anything that you think the team should be made aware of.

Personalisation

You can also add information on PEEPs and/or any medical information that you’d want Security to be aware of in an emergency scenario. This is optional.

Location Sharing

Your location is only shared with Security IF you raise an alert, check-in to campus or send in a report.

2-way messaging allows SafeZone users to communicate with the Security Team via text message if this is preferred. This helps keep lines of communication open with users who need assistance.

After raising an alarm, the option will appear on-screen to call Security. To go into chat, press the blue and white speech bubble. Once in chat, you can start typing. Previous messages are displayed in addition to information on the online status of any participants.

2-way messaging is one of the accessibility features available on SafeZone, meaning people with hearing and speech impairments can contact responders in a quick and easy manner.

The SafeZone app is useful for those who regularly study or work alone, out of hours or in high-risk environments (lone workers). Lone workers can check in on the app, which lets the Security Team know where you are on campus - your location and ID will be displayed on a map, which the Security team will be able to see for the duration of your check in session.

SafeZone will automatically finish your session as you leave the region boundary, or you can check out again at any time by tapping the button again.

You can also switch on 'automatic check in' in the app's settings, meaning your phone will automatically check you in whenever you move into a specially designated region on campus. Subject to you granting auto-check in permission, your phone will also check you out, based on your current location.

If you have witnessed a non-emergency incident on campus (such as suspicious activity, a disturbance, damage or vandalism), you can use SafeZone's tip reporting tool to inform the Security team, who will then be able to investigate.

To do so, select the 'Report a Tip' option on the app's home screen, choose the category that best fits the incident you'd like to report, enter a short description to give the Security team some more information and hit the 'Send' button.

The Security team may then get in touch with you if they need to know more. You can choose whether to send a photo, share your location or send the tip anonymously.

SafeZone cannot track your location. Your location is only visible if you raise an alert or use the check in function.

Read SafeZone's privacy policy.