Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Patron of north-east-based charity Right to Resist, Lord John Stevens, is overseeing the launch of a new personal safety app at Newcastle University. The app, called VigilAuntie, aims to protect women and girls from assault by providing a simple and effective way to record and secure video evidence at the touch of a button.
According to Stevens, the need to protect vulnerable individuals is of utmost importance. He believes that VigilAuntie is a groundbreaking solution that addresses the issue proactively by deterring potential attackers before a situation escalates into a crisis.
Leading the launch at Newcastle University is geography student Em Beattie and her team of volunteers. Beattie explains that VigilAuntie is designed to help students look out for each other. With just one click, the app streams and stores video evidence in the cloud, along with a location map. It also sends SMS messages to close friends with links to the live video, allowing them to respond and help. The video cannot be deleted, even if the phone is taken from the user. The app is completely free, funded by donations to the charity.
The city of Newcastle has a history of being at the forefront of adopting video technology. Lord Stevens, during his time as Chief Constable of Northumbria Police in the late 1980s, oversaw the installation of CCTV on a widespread basis. Stevens recalls the dramatic impact it had, with a 100% conviction rate on 2,750 disorder prosecutions, which was previously unimaginable. He sees VigilAuntie as a personal CCTV that brings similar benefits in safeguarding individuals.
With a successful launch at Newcastle University, Right to Resist plans to expand the use of VigilAuntie to other campuses in the UK, followed by a nationwide promotion. The app is currently available for download on the UK App Store and Google Play for those who wish to be among the first to use it.
