Case Study: Northumbria University achieves faster response times and enhanced student and staff safety with CriticalArc's SafeZone

Northumbria University - Customer Case Study

Northumbria University, with almost 32,000 students and staff across city-centre campuses in Newcastle (plus central London and Amsterdam sites), faced the challenge of keeping a large, urban student population—including overseas students and people with additional healthcare needs—safe from threats, suspicious behaviour and medical emergencies. To address this, the university adopted CriticalArc’s SafeZone solution as part of its integrated security approach.

CriticalArc implemented SafeZone’s smartphone and desktop tools—emergency call, lone‑worker check‑ins, Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs), geo‑zones and real‑time location monitoring—so the security control room can see exact locations and dispatch help quickly. The deployment has delivered faster response times and greater situational awareness, helped prevent incidents from escalating, accelerated first‑aid for life‑threatening events, and boosted the university’s safety reputation and appeal to overseas students.

Northumbria University

John Anderson

Head of Security