Skytsengel

The Danish Stalking Center is behind the Guardian Angel App, which is supported by the website Skytsengel.org
Guardian angel is for anyone who feels insecure in everyday life.

Guardian Angel app
Guardian Angel is a specifically developed mobile app that aims to increase the experience of security and safety in everyday life, for people who feel persecuted and exposed to stalking.

In its alarm functions, the guardian angel app uses location services in the background. Continued use of GPS while the guardian angel app is running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Guardian angel is based on the principle of security through contacts / social relationships in the victim's own network, such as friends, family or neighbors, as a form of help for self-help.

Guardian angel is not an assault alarm, but a security-creating tool for people who feel insecure and exposed to stalking.

Who may need Guardian Angel
People who are exposed to persecution and stalking often experience insecurity and limitedness in their daily lives - many experience their freedom of movement limited in relation to being able to move around in public spaces or other places of residence. Guardian angel can help to create a safer experience in everyday life and thereby maintain the natural freedom of movement.

Guardian Angel's four key functions:

1. Red alarm: In case of acute threat or assault
When the user feels acutely threatened and / or is at risk of physical abuse.
The alarm sends a message to the user's connected network persons, who can thereby come to the victim's rescue and possibly call for further help such as the police. When red alarm is activated - audio recording starts automatically.

2. Yellow Alarm: Come by - in case of insecurity
When the user is in a situation eg in the home, where the user feels insecure without feeling threatened. It could be the pursuer standing outside the home, or staying near the victim's home / residence. By the network person 'coming by', the person in question can witness and, for example, photograph the incident.

3. Blue alarm: Follow me - in case of insecurity
When the user is insecure in the public space and needs to be 'followed' - or watched on his way, by the connected network people. The function can be used if the user feels insecure when the user is, for example, on his way home from the city in the evening, on his way home from the cinema or on his way home from work.

Log function: Documentation and evidence collection
All documentation added to the log is categorized by event type and collected on a server, with registration of date, time, description of event, etc. The app allows sound recording when activating the Red Alarm, which is automatically added to the log. The log function is accessed via the user's username and password in the Guardian Angel App and on the website skytsengel.org. Log can be printed via Skytsengel.org

All alarm functions use GPS tracking which indicates the user's position via maps on the network person's smartphone.

Security
All communication between app and server is encrypted. Likewise, password stored is non-reversible encrypted.
In the development of the Guardian Angel system, there has been a focus on creating a very high level of security.

What is stalking
Stalking is defined as unwanted and repeated inquiries and contact attempts which the victim experiences as disturbing, intrusive and intimidating.

Stalking can include many different behaviors ranging from repeated and unwanted phone calls, text messages, emails, gifts, stalking, surveillance, and the like. Separately, each individual action or activity may seem innocent and harmless, but the behavior must always be seen in the context in which they appear. In doing so, the activities are experienced as frightening or create fear in the victim.

Stalking is not harassment, but the harassment is typically part of the stalking.
Fear is not always an expression of stalking, but fear is typically part of the effect of stalking on the victim.