University bosses have launched a safety app to keep students and staff out of danger on their campuses.

The SafeZone service is already used by 22 other universities across England, America and Australia and responds to requests for help, emergency services and advice.

It follows a knife attack on one of its campuses earlier this year.

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In April, an 18-year-old was stabbed during a robbery at the Gillingham student accommodation complex Liberty Quays on Pier Road.

This has meant some students claiming they no longer feel safe on or around campus.

Kelly Millgate, 20, student of applied psychology in Canterbury has downloaded the app but doesn't think technology is the answer.

She said: "It's very easy and quick to use so I can see why people might use it if they felt the need.

"This app sounds really interesting because sometimes you get into a situation where you need some assistance and you don't really know what to do about it" - Yas Tafawi, student

"I do feel safe on campus even given the crimes and sexual assaults, I'm just not sure an app would be the first thing that comes to mind if I was ever in that situation."

Medway students are also unsure about the technological advance.

Helena Washer, 20, student of business management said: "I think it offers a sense of security, it's quite good but it doesn't work outside of our campus and there are loads of students living outside so I don't think it's that safe."

Post graduate student of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Yas Tafawi, 28, is more optimistic.

"Maybe at the moment the app isn't connected with services outside of campus but maybe in the future the app will develop to include things like taxi services which will help more people."

The app will work within the Canterbury and Medway campuses including Liberty Quays and the Historic Dockyard at Chatham, but while this is where lectures are given, it is not where the majority of students live, study or socialise.

Many students live in privately rented accommodation and shared housing in surrounding areas that are not recognised as part of the so-called "SafeZone".

If a student or staff member needs help outside of these zones, the app will prompt the user to dial 999 for emergency services.

Some think they could do without using the app at all.

There is already a security service in place on the Medway campus which includes daily patrols, an on-campus guard and Kent Police university liaison officer Joyce McEvoy.

PCSO McEvoy is a prominent member of the Safer Medway Partnership and believes the campus is safe enough without the introduction of the new app.

She said: "It is a good idea on campus, absolutely, but we already have 24/7 security here, CCTV just about everywhere, I'm here four days a week and most weekends so I am always contactable.

"If it does not work outside of the university area and if it is basically prompting you to dial 999 then you could be doing that anyway, it's a common sense thing."

VIDEO: Students discuss SafeZone

The university has urged its members to download the app on their mobile phones and use it if they feel threatened, have been hurt, injured or assaulted or have been victim of robbery.

Juliet Thomas, assistant director of estates management at the university, said: "Student safety is core to the student experience and we are proud of our reputation as an extremely safe place to study.

"After monitoring SafeZone’s development for some time, we have been consistently impressed with the benefits it can deliver plus ease of deployment and use."