Teacher launches £25 'distress signal' device for Londoners who fear for safety on streets

A teacher has developed a mobile safety device with pupils which he hopes will help Londoners feel less vulnerable while out in the capital.

Marc Lewis, Dean of the School of Communication Arts in Brixton, said In Case of Emergency, or ICE, was “like Neighbourhood Watch for the new generation”. The disc-like technology costs £25 and its supporting app is available for Apple and Android.

If users feel vulnerable or get into trouble, they press the disc and it sends a distress signal text message to a list of pre-selected friends and family —who do not need to have ICE — with a link to their exact location.

A text is also sent to emergency services with the user’s location and telephone number — and the system alerts other ICE users nearby who might be able to come to their aid. Once more people join, just the five nearest ICE users will be notified.

Mr Lewis, 43, a former pupil at the school, which trains people for advertising and marketing jobs, said: “Our pupils will be here until 10 o’clock at night sometimes and will then be trying to get home late. We thought there must be a way of keeping people safe or at least making them feel a little less vulnerable, and so the idea for ICE was developed.”

Since development started nine months ago, the school has worked with many of its top contacts — including design firm Therefore and M&C Saatchi — to get the product ready.