by Brianna Crandall — March 7, 2016—The security department of Newcastle University, a public research university located in northeast England, recently selected a new security software application developed by technology innovator CriticalArc, to provide around-the-clock reassurance to students and staff on campus.
Featuring mass notification and monitoring for users working alone, SafeZone improves the effectiveness of security teams, while improving compliance with policies and procedures.
Located near the city center of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle University educates some 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 different countries. Teaching and research are delivered in 24 academic schools and 40 research institutes and research centers, in buildings dating from as far back as 1888, in an urban campus situated near parks and major roads and surrounded by the city’s buildings.
Live as of February 15, the SafeZone mobile app will be available for free to students and staff. It allows students and staff to summon assistance, while enabling security teams to implement a fast and coordinated response to events ranging from everyday concerns through to full-scale emergencies.
Featuring mass notification and monitoring for users working alone, SafeZone improves the effectiveness of security teams, while improving compliance with policies and procedures.
The SafeZone app allows students and staff to summon assistance, while enabling security teams to implement a fast and coordinated response to all types of events.
With the campus safety app rollout, the University joins forces with Northumbria University and other local agencies, including Northumbria Police, to maximize the benefits of the SafeZone service as part of the Safe Newcastle initiative to extend emergency response services.
Shed Coulthard, Estates Security manager, Newcastle University, commented:
The personal wellbeing of students and staff is our top priority, and while we uphold an impeccable record on safety — in a city widely regarded as one of the safest places to study in the U.K. — we are always open to innovative use of technology to ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible student experience.
While our campus is already very safe, the SafeZone app will give extra reassurance to our students and staff. It will also help us to work closer with partners across the city and to continue providing efficient response to incidents at any scale.
The cloud-based service will be supported on campus and geo-fenced safe zones in the city, including popular routes between campus buildings, residence halls and parts of the city center. Users will be able to check the app to see if an area off-campus is monitored as a safe zone.
SafeZone is available to download online.
