News

UK domestic violence kiosks launch successfully

May 12, 2002

LONDON -- A domestic violence outreach campaign using electronic kiosks has gotten off to a solid start, according to officials from English kiosk developer Cityspace Ltd. The system has also received praise from London mayor Ken Livingstone.

Less than a month after being launched throughout the UK, almost 5,000 women have accessed the kiosks for information and advice on domestic abuse issues. The touchscreen kiosks, called i-plus points, are located near shopping malls and transportation hubs in eight London boroughs, Manchester, Bristol, and other English cities.

The domestic violence program was initially launched at four Cityspace kiosks in London last December; Cityspace developed the program with the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (See story: London kiosks an outlet for abuse sufferers). Patrick McGuirk, Cityspace director of E-government, said about 200 women a day are using the service.

Livingstone, in a news release, said that about 40 people a day print out information on domestic violence from the kiosks in London.

"It is proving to be an invaluable resource," Livingstone said. "But I want more people to know that it's there."