← Back to home

Help guide

A quick tour of Senticomm for members and community admins.

Before you start

Senticomm is for verified UK local residents in a closed community (pilot: Thetford). It is a community protection and neighbour-support app — not a vigilante or emergency service. Always call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

Install the app to your home screen for the best experience on mobile. Sign in with a passkey (no password).

Joining a community

  • Search by postcode or town on the home page, then open your community.
  • You need an invite code from a neighbour or community admin.
  • You can only belong to one community at a time. Leave your current community on Profile before joining another.
  • Submit your real name and street address for admin verification. This is encrypted and only shown to admins reviewing your request.
  • Choose a display handle — this is what other members see in chat and on the map.
  • Wait on the pending screen until an admin approves you.

Navigation

Once approved, use the bottom bar: Map, Chat, SOS, Profile, and (if you are an admin) Admin.

Badge dots on Map and Chat show new activity since you last opened those tabs.

Map & incident reports

  • The map shows active incident pins and a 72-hour heatmap of reports in your area.
  • Tap the + button to report something. Pick a category, add a short note, and choose your location (near you or by postcode/street).
  • You can post anonymously — your handle is hidden from other members on that report.
  • Reports expire after 72 hours. Open a pin or list item to read details, show it on the map, or attend.
  • Attending shares your live GPS with the reporter so they can see you en route. Tap again to stop attending.
  • If you posted the report and neighbours are helping, tap I'm safe when you no longer need assistance.

SOS alerts

  • Open the SOS tab and call 999 first if there is an immediate emergency.
  • Hold the SOS button for three seconds to alert nearby active neighbours. Add optional backup email and push notifications on Profile for when the app is closed.
  • SOS with location creates a short-lived red pin on the map (about 15 minutes).
  • If you see a neighbour's SOS on the map, open the pin and tap I'm responding to share your location — you do not need to open the SOS tab to help.
  • SOS requires an internet connection. Offline, use Call 999 on the SOS screen.
  • Nearby members may be alerted — there is no guarantee anyone will respond.

If you respond to a neighbour

  • Respond to support the person who raised the alert — not to confront, chase, or punish anyone.
  • Prefer lawful, proportionate neighbour support: walk with them, stay visible nearby, call 999, or wait until police arrive.
  • Visible presence can deter trouble (for example neighbours in gardens or on the street) — Senticomm is not a vigilante app.
  • Do not put yourself at risk. You are never required to respond, and you are not expected to fight.
  • If someone is being attacked, call 999 first. Only intervene physically if you can do so safely and lawfully under UK law.

Chat

  • General chat is open to all active members after approval.
  • High priority unlocks after your first 24 hours in the community.
  • Utility channel is for admins and moderators only.
  • Messages are encrypted in the app; community members with channel access can read them.
  • Tap Report on someone else's message if you need an admin to review it.
  • If an admin bans a member, remaining members may see a brief “Chat security updated” notice — the community chat key is rotated for everyone's protection.

Profile

  • Share your 6-digit neighbour invite code so others can request to join.
  • Add an optional email for SOS backup alerts if your community has email configured.
  • Enable SOS push notifications (production build / installed PWA).
  • Leave community — type LEAVE to confirm. You lose access to chat, map, and SOS; you will need a new invite to rejoin. The sole remaining admin cannot leave until another admin is appointed. You cannot leave while you have an active SOS alert.
  • Request account deletion — asks your community admin to permanently erase your account. This is separate from leaving; see the Privacy policy.
  • Sign out when using a shared device.

If you are a community admin

  • Admin tab: Pending (approve or reject joins), Reports (chat reports), Members (ban, unban, or erase accounts), and Activity (moderation audit log).
  • Review verification details carefully before approving.
  • Dismiss false chat reports or ban members who break community rules. You can add an optional ban reason stored in the audit log.
  • Banning ends the member's access immediately (their session is invalidated). They must sign in again after an unban.
  • Members who request deletion show a “Deletion requested” badge — confirm erasure on Members by typing their handle.
  • Dismiss false map reports from the map admin tools.
  • Admins show an Admin badge next to their handle in chat and on the map.

Need more help?

For membership or moderation in your community, contact your community administrator first.

For app, privacy, or technical questions, use the contact form.