Regenersis - Turning Around Technology

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing, today urged Londoners to hand over their unused mobile phones to improve safety for those at risk of domestic violence.

Kit Malthouse was the keynote speaker at the launch of the fonesforsafety® project at City Hall, which reconfigures donated mobile phones into ‘999 only’ alarms for victims of domestic violence.  The logistics and reconfiguration are managed by Regenersis.

The London-wide launch of fonesforsafety®, run by Elephant Jobs, follows successful pilots in Southwark and Hounslow

On April 21 the Mayor of London Boris Johnson launched ‘The Way Forward’, his strategy to tackle all forms of violence against women in London, including domestic violence. The fonesforsafety® project will be working with the ‘The Way Forward’ team to help prioritise the roll out of this project to London boroughs over the next two years.

Kit Malthouse said:
“Domestic violence is utterly unacceptable and we must do everything within our power to punish the perpetrators and support those at risk. ‘I urge everyone to take a look around their home and donate any unused or unwanted mobile phones. ‘A direct line to the police could be a potential lifesaver.”

During the launch the Deputy Mayor handed over 25 reconfigured phones to the newly formed fonesforsafety® partnership in Hackney.

Project Coordinator, Marie Tan Kiak Li, said: “The fonesforsafety® project brings together two very different yet pressing issues: increasing recycling and combating domestic violence. Rolling out this project across all London boroughs over the next two years will increase awareness about both issues, as well as provide a means for individuals affected by domestic violence to feel safer. This project is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in so many ways”

fonesforsafety® are asking the public, local businesses, chambers of commerce’s and councils to support the scheme by donating unwanted phones, providing collection points in businesses and commercial premises and sponsoring freepost envelopes.

To find out how you can get involved visit www.fonesforsafety.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• On April 20th the Mayor launched ‘The Way Forward’ his strategy to end violence against women in London. ‘The Way Forward’ is open to public consultation until July 20th.
• fonesforsafety® is part of the CRISP (Community Recycling in Southwark Project), a division of Elephant Jobs. It was launched in Southwark in 2002.
• There are currently two pilot fonesforsafety® projects running in London - one in Southwark and another in Hounslow. Nationally there are pilots running in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Norfolk.
• For more information about the fonesforsafety® project contact Marie Tan Kiak Li on 020 7740 6533 (Office) / 078 9458 6018 (Mobile) or email Marie.Tan@crispej.org.uk