Police Digital Service’s TecSAFE Technology Supported Thousands of Vulnerable People in the UK

More than 31,000 vulnerable individuals in the UK have been protected in the past 13 years thanks to a unique technology provided by the Police Digital Service (PDS). 

Over its lifetime, TecSAFE has made a real difference for vulnerable people in the UK, and in the past six years, more than 17,500 victims felt threatened enough to activate the service and seek support. TecSAFE can be used to protect victims of various crime types, such as domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, honour-based violence, rape, and serious sexual offences (RASSO). 

During the past year:  

• 2,301 devices were issued to victims, with 3,693 activations.  

• 37 police forces now use the service, with other forces in various stages of signing up. 

• 355 training sessions delivered for safeguarding leads and other policing staff involved with protecting vulnerable individuals.  

• The team was awarded the NPCC Violence Against Women and Girls’ Taskforce’s “Best Use of Technology” award last September.  

• Written evidence was submitted to the Public Accounts Committee, highlighting the crucial role that TecSAFE technology plays in protecting victims and improving police response.  

• TecSAFE has been submitted to the College of Policing to be considered for their bank of promising practices and in the toolkit to tackle violence against women and girls. 

Tony Eastaugh, CBE at the Police Digital Service, said: “The right technology is crucial in achieving the commitment to halve violence against women and girls in the UK within a decade. With its unique features, the endorsement from the Home Office, and the support from the Violence Against Women and Girls’ Taskforce and Operation Soteria, TecSAFE and PDS are significant partners in helping to deliver this ambition,”  

Rob Mason, TecSAFE Service Director, said: “I am proud of what we have achieved so far, and I want to continue to expand TecSAFE’s adoption across police forces and crime types. Across the UK there are vulnerable individuals who need protection. TecSAFE can make a difference in offering reassurance and a more cohesive police response at a national level.” 

TecSAFE is discreet and easy to use, making it suitable for protecting people across a variety of cases. Available in 43 languages, TecSAFE enables policing to reach vulnerable individuals across diverse communities, ensuring a more efficient and consistent response in the UK.  

Testimonials from users: 

“I’ve used TecSAFE. It’s very discrete and did help me with feeling safe”. 

“I had a house alarm previously, but I was always afraid to leave home. Now I can do normal things, like take my kids to school, something I’ll never take for granted again”. 

“I’ve used TecSAFE when my perpetrator was released from prison, after he was convicted of attempt of kidnap and what would have likely ended up in my murder. I was naturally terrified and, although he had an exclusion zone, I felt anxious all the time. Knowing that I could use this technology, which made me a priority to the police and was easily trackable, enabled me to regain control over my life again, and start making positive steps to going out in the dark, visiting friends, and just being normal. It truly made a difference. I’m so grateful to TecSAFE and my police force for giving me access, training me to use it, and giving me the confidence!” 

“I had TecSAFE, too, and it made me feel much safer.” 

“I’m feeling a bit better and reassured now. I’m finding TecSAFE very reassuring, too. I’ve managed to go out a few times over the weekend which was nice. Many thanks.” 

Domestic Abuse Officer in North Wales: “TecSAFE is discreet, the location tracker provides accurate data, and it identifies high-risk victims as ‘vulnerable callers’, triggering an immediate police response. I have issued many TecSAFE devices – the process is quick and easy to follow. Each time I have provided TecSAFE technology to a victim, it has made them feel safer and more reassured.”