Urgent Telephone Weekends : 01233 331111

WalkSafe

 Community Safety Partnership logoSafe Space logoKent Police and Crime Commissioner logoWalkSafe logo

WalkSafe, the free personal safety mobile app designed to help residents and visitors feel safer while outside is now available in Ashford.

The launch of the app has been supported by funding from the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and brings the following key features to residents:

  • Real-time journey sharing
  • National Safe Space map access
  • Instant SOS alerts

The app will allow residents to plan safer routes and stay connected with trusted friends and family. In a practical sense, it means that before heading out, you’ll be able to share your route as well as an ETA with trusted contacts. If you don’t arrive on time, those contacts will receive automatic notifications so that others can check up on your whereabouts.

The SOS feature will instantly alert those on your trusted list with your live location in situations where a user may feel unsafe.

Other features include the ability to report local safety concerns, such as poor lighting or crowded areas, to help others stay informed. WalkSafe also uses up-to-date police crime statistics to highlight hotspots and guide safer travel decisions.

Many people worry about walking alone at night, especially women and vulnerable groups. Within seconds of opening the app, WalkSafe can help to improve self-confidence and support users when out and about or if walking home.

Download WalkSafe now on iOS or Android. For more information visit the official WalkSafe website.

Frequently asked questions

+ How much has this app cost the council?

Nothing, as WalkSafe’s availability in Ashford is possible thanks to full funding from the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner

+ Does WalkSafe work in areas outside of the Ashford Borough, for eg. nearby friends and family?

Yes. The app is free to download across the UK, giving anyone access to all of the app's features. For those outside the Ashford borough area, they won't receive the personalised homepage with banner, links and nearby safety-trained venues. However, they'll still be able to add anyone as a trusted contact and they can continue to share live journeys, ETA arrival times, and send SOS alerts if they feel unsafe. Trusted contacts outside of the Ashford borough area will also still be notified of live location sharing and will prompted to check in with them when needed.