SoloProtect Lone Worker saves a life – is ‘Outstanding Citizen’
Mark Watts (pictured above, left), a 25-year-old Carpenter employed by WM Housing Group, and a lone worker using SoloProtect, saved the life of a knife-attack victim as he drove home after an out of hours call out. His bravery, and intervention into the aftermath of a violent situation, has seen recognition from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Outstanding Citizens awards.
WM Housing Group is focussed on ‘creating places where people are proud to live and work’ – and now manages more than 30,000 homes across the West Midlands, and employs close to 1,000 members of staff.
SoloProtect has been at the forefront of lone worker education, and protection since 2003, and support tens of thousands of lone workers. The company formally opened a brand new, purpose built, Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), at its UK Head Office, Suzy Lamplugh House, in 2015. The SoloProtect ARC exclusively supports lone worker alarms, is accredited to the European standard for ARCs, EN50518, and now supports all SoloProtect lone worker customer accounts.
Mark is one of close to 500 lone workers at WM Housing Group, using SoloProtect. A 24/7 Alarm supported solution, featuring Identicom – a discreet, ID badge communications device to support any worker in distress, or on the receiving end of verbal abuse, aggression or incapacitation.
After seeing a bloodied, and vulnerable man at the side of the road, Mark stopped his vehicle and went to assist the victim.
“I immediately activated my SoloProtect ID badge”, commented Mark.
Mark provided first aid, whilst also having to calm a gang of people involved in the incident at risk to his own personal safety, and managed to get the victim to the safety of his van.
Throughout the incident, audio evidence from the open Red Alert on his device was being monitored by SoloProtect, recorded for potential future use, and the situation was assessed and escalated appropriately, to the relevant Police force locally – who promptly arrived and took control of the situation.
Mark commented:
“I was really surprised to get this nomination, it’s really nice to be recognised”, received his award at the Outstanding Citizens ceremony on 13th July 2016.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said:
“Mark’s actions were incredibly brave – there’s not many people who would stop and do that. His fearless and quick-thinking actions not only saved the victim’s life but also resulted in an arrest. He is a true community hero.”
Matt Posaner, Director of People at WM Housing Group said:
“Our investment in SoloProtect was definitely well worth it. The speedy response of SoloProtect in alerting the local police ensured the safety of Mark and the victim he so bravely stopped to assist.”
Craig Swallow, Managing Director at SoloProtect UK commented:
“We’re delighted Mark was able to stay calm, and use his SoloProtect device to support his safety exactly as it was intended, once he’d made such a heroic decision to intervene. We’d like to congratulate him on his award, it’s much deserved.”
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