Nearly 500 young people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have taken part in an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) in education programme that is helping to support thousands nationally who are at …
Menu
In 2014 Hollie Gazzard was tragically murdered by her boyfriend after months of obsessive behaviour, jealousy and harassment. Following her death, Hollie’s family and the Hollie Gazzard Trust developed the Hollie Guard app which turns smartphones into enhaces personal safety devices.
The Hollie Guard app is free to download and readily available for all genders and ages. Although the app was initially designed to support victims of domestic abuse/violence, Hollie Guard can be used by anyone looking for extra protection.
A local survey conducted by the Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) in June 2021, highlighted 67% of female respondents had experiences harassment, intimidation, or violence in a public place. 92% feared walking down subways or alleyways, followed by 90% feared walking in poorly lit areas in the night-time economy.
To help women and girls feel safer the VRA is launching this campaign as part of our commitment to tackle violence against women and girls.
Below are the key features of the app.
Nick Gazzard, Hollie’s Dad, demonstrates how to use the app in the video below.
By simply holding down the hexagon button for 3-6 seconds, this sets off an alert and activates the phone’s camera, sending a message and recording to the pre-defined emergency contacts.
The report feature allows users to quickly and easily record an incident with supporting photo evidence that is automatically categorised, time stamped and geo tagged.
Stealth mode allows you to raise an alert silently while displaying a default home screen that would look inconspicuous to the attacker, thereby giving the impression that no alarm has been triggered. This feature is useful in certain situations in which raising an alert could increase the risk of harm.
The meeting timer allows users to feel safe when going into a potentially dangerous meeting or performing a dangerous task. A user set timer will countdown until deactivated meaning the user has to mark themselves as safe, otherwise raising an alert.
Journey allows users to set a start and end point. The app automatically monitors your journey and alerts your nominated contacts once you safely arrive or trigger an alert.
If someone’s repeatedly behaving in a way towards you that’s making you feel scared, distressed or threatened, then you may be a victim of stalking or harassment. Find out more on the relevant links.
Staffordshire Police – If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of stalking or harassment there are a few different ways you can report it to the police.
StreetSafe – to anonymously report public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, e.g. street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, e.g. being followed or verbally abused.
British Transport Police – The free Railway Guardian app helps you report crime to British Transport Police and provides information on what to do if you see sexual harassment on trains or at stations.
Staffordshire Women’s Aid
www.staffordshirewomensaid.org
The Survivors Trust (Rape and Sexual Violence Services)
www.thesurvivorstrust.org
Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk
Staffordshire Police
www.staffordshire.police.uk
New Era – the new holistic Domestic Abuse (DA) service operating across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
www.new-era.uk
End Violence Against Women (for specialist women’s support services)
www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk
Suzy Lamplugh Trust (Campaigning, education and support focusing on stalking)
www.suzylamplugh.org
Nearly 500 young people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have taken part in an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) in education programme that is helping to support thousands nationally who are at …
The public is being urged to surrender any so-called ‘zombie’ knives to designated police stations across Staffordshire as the government looks to launch its national amnesty compensation scheme next week. …
Staffordshire Police officers across Staffordshire will be raising awareness of drink-spiking and the work we do to support victims, as part of a national campaign to help people stay safe …
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) has funded two online workshops for parents and carers on gangs, exploitation and knife crime which will be delivered by the Ben …
Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance