THE SECURITY team at Glasgow University has been awarded for its use of a pioneering security app.

SafeZone, developed by an Australian company, is an app that has a torch, a first aid button that immediately notifies the control room and an emergency button, which does the same.

Following notifications, the user's location also becomes available and the security team can ensure it is safe and well, even if the user is not at the university.

In one instance, officers say they arrived at a flat in the West End two minutes and 36 seconds after the alert.

After being utilised by institutions in Edinburgh, England and the world, it was first introduced to Glasgow University in September 2020, but due to the pandemic, its rollout still continues today.

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Last week at the SafeZone's Customer Awards, the Glasgow team received the Most Collaborative Use Award.

So far, almost 6000 students and staff members have downloaded the app and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

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Emaan Basat, student at Glasgow University and SafeZone user, said: "It helps me feel safer as I know that security will come to me if I issue an alert.

"This is especially useful as a young female student in winter as it gets dark quickly and I feel more intimidated thinking anything can happen but thanks to the app I don't have that problem anymore."

Head of Security at Glasgow University, Gary Stephen said he is very proud to be able to provide this service.

He added: "We just need to manage expectations, if there are four incidents going on at the same time, we can't respond to all.

"It's not a miracle cure, but it gives us instantaneous information we can respond to.

"For example, we have responded to accidents, people being locked in their office, people who felt unsafe on the streets, people who were at the accommodation and felt vulnerable, and we have responded in a timely manner."