SafeZone

SafeZone

SafeZone is the College's mobile app that allows all students and staff to alert, contact and directly speak to the Security team in the event of an emergency.

If you or someone else ever need assistance in an emergency, simply tap the alert button and the Security Control Room will be immediately notified and your location will be shared with them. Using your location and personal profile, the Security team can respond immediately to your specific needs. Once an alert is opened, you can also either call or direct message a Security guard. If possible and safe to do so, you can provide further details on what you need and how they can best help. 

SafeZone uses geofencing to cover every campus and halls of residence. As long as your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, there is now a simple and clear way of getting help wherever you need it.

Please note, at Imperial College London, all three buttons ‘First Aid, Help and Emergency’ go through to the same number at security, so pressing any button is fine if in doubt.  In addition, we are not currently using the tip reporting function or person fallen function and SafeZone is not on PCs.

SafeZone check in feature

As outlined in the College's Lone Working Policy, there are instances where staff should avoid working alone or inform others where this is not possible.

Please note, the use of SafeZone to manage lone working is not permitted in both RED (highly restricted) and AMBER (restricted) areas. More information access control areas can be found here. 

Whilst is it not mandated in the college lone working safety policy or procedure, SafeZone's check-in timer can be used as a control during lone working in permitted areas - simply set up the timer and, if you don't respond when prompted, the signal will be sent to Security who will call to check on you. If you don't answer the call, Security will come up to physically check on you. When using SafeZone whilst lone working, all relevant departmental lone working procedures should still be followed.

SafeZone Alliance

Imperial is part of the SafeZone alliance, enabling the security control room to extend the footprint of 24/7 support beyond our campus boundaries to include any other participating universities.

This means students and staff can raise an alert on the SafeZone app when on any other university campuses which are part of the alliance. The app directly connects them to the appropriate safety or security team for that area, who provide the assistance needed. You can see the full list of Alliance members here. 

The below video shows how to add the Alliance as your organisation.

Is SafeZone mandatory to use?

No, SafeZone is completely optional and is simply intended as a more efficient and responsive way of communicating with the Security team. We encourage staff and students to use the app but you are under no obligation to download or register it.

Is SafeZone the only way I can contact the Security team?

All existing Security contact numbers remain operational and are supported. In addition to SafeZone, we recommend you save the relevant contact numbers you need within your phone address book.

How is my location data used?

Your location information is only shared when the app is active and when you have either activated an alert or ‘checked in’. Your location is only visible when you choose to share it. Details on an alert, including the location of it, are stored by the Security team for 31 days and are then discarded.

What personal information do I need to include on my profile?

SafeZone requires your name, Imperial email and phone number to function. You can also add any information you may want the Security team to know in the event of an emergency (i.e. if you have a medical condition such as experiencing epileptic seizures). 

If you have any further questions, comments or feedback, you please contact the Security team.