SafeZone: Keeping you safe on campus

Your safety matters.

The University is introducing SafeZone to provide faster, more responsive support across campus – during emergencies and day-to-day. It’s all part of creating a safer environment for everyone.

SafeZone is being introduced to:

• Support a safer, more connected campus community

• Improve response times during emergencies
• Provide better support for lone working and out-of-hours activity
• Strengthen crisis communication and live alerts
• Help meet legal and safety obligations, including Martyn’s Law

SafeZone is just one of the ways the University is investing in your safety and wellbeing, with support from your Students' Union. Following our recent Safer at Warwick feedback project, we are making a number of safety improvements on campus, including the introduction of SafeZone. It works alongside our wider campus support services to help you feel confident, connected, and supported.

SafeZone is a free safety app that connects you directly to campus safety and support services. You can request help, check in when working alone, and receive real-time safety alerts – all from your phone.

All University of Warwick students and staff can use the app. While some departments may take part in early training and testing, SafeZone is available for everyone to download.

Download the app by searching SafeZone in your phone’s app store (App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android). Once installed, register using your University of Warwick email address to access the full features.

To register, you’ll be asked to enter:

• Your Warwick email address
• A password – create your own (don’t use your University password).
• Your real name – this helps the Community Safety Team identify you.
• Your mobile number – responders may use this to contact you.
• A photo (optional) – useful if you need to be identified.
• Other optional details – you can add any medical conditions to help responders support you more effectively.

You can update your profile in the app at any time (except your email address). If you enter the wrong email, just sign up again using the correct one.

If you're looking for help setting up the app, checking your device’s compatibility, or troubleshooting basic issues, take a look at the Guide to device settings for the SafeZone app. It covers:

• Which phones, tablets, and operating systems are supported
• How to enable location and notification settings
• How SafeZone uses Wi-Fi and GPS for accurate location
• What to do if you don’t have a smartphone

For more technical help, visit the SafeZone FAQsLink opens in a new window or email the Warwick team at SafeZoneDeployment@warwick.ac.uk.

If you press an alert button by mistake, you can cancel it straight away by tapping the same button again while the countdown timer is running.

If the alert has already been sent, you can still cancel it — but Community Safety will contact you to make sure you’re safe. Please answer their call or reply to their message so they know you’re okay.

All alerts are received by Warwick’s Community Safety Team.

When you raise an alert, your location and profile details are shared with trained responders. If you’ve checked in, your location is also visible to the team — but if you need help, you must still press an alert button or make a help call for them to respond.

Once you press an alert button, three icons will appear on your screen showing the status of your request:

• Location – your phone is finding your location
• Sending – your request is being sent
• Acknowledged – a Community Safety Team member has seen your alert and confirmed they are responding

You can cancel the alert at any time by pressing the red button.

No, you don’t need to check in for the alert features to work.

If you need help, simply open the app and press one of the buttons. Check in is optional, unless you’re working alone or are required to use it as part of a lone-working policy.

With SafeZone Alliance switched on, you can use your app not only on our campus, but also when you’re visiting other participating universities in the UK and Ireland. That means if you’re away for an event, studying, or just visiting friends, you’ll still be able to get help from the local safety/ security team on their campus.

To view the full and up-to-date list of Alliance members, please visit: SafeZone Alliance Members | CriticalArc

See how to switch the SafeZone Alliance feature on via this article.

Location access is needed so you can use core features like raising alerts, checking in, or connecting to Bluetooth devices. Your location is only shared when you choose to raise an alert or check in — and only with Warwick’s Community Safety team.

Allowing SafeZone to access your location “always” means you can check in and carry on using your phone as normal. If you choose “only while using the app”, SafeZone must stay open on your screen. Remember, this setting doesn’t mean your location is always shared. It’s only shared when you actively use certain features.

In the event of an emergency or major incident, the University may use push notifications to send you:

• Safety information or instructions
• A request to check in
• Links to further updates

This helps us coordinate support and keep you informed quickly.

SafeZone is designed to minimise battery use. It only checks your location frequently when you're moving, helping it run more efficiently in the background.

Yes. Your information is stored securely and only accessed when needed — for example, if you raise an alert or check in. You can read more in the SafeZone privacy policyLink opens in a new window.