Ask for Angela initiative

Ask for Angela

The Ask for Angela initiative aims to ensure that anyone who is feeling vulnerable or unsafe is able to get discreet support. This could be on a night out, on a date or meeting friends. The initiative works by training staff working in pubs, bars and clubs in vulnerability management and what to do when someone ‘Asks for Angela’. 

When a trained member of staff hears the code-phrase they will understand that the person is in need of support and will be able to respond in an appropriate, discreet way. This could be offering them an alternative way out of the venue, calling them a taxi or in a more serious situation, alerting venue security and/or the Police. 

Ask for Angela is an important initiative as national statistics show:

97% of women aged 18-24 and 80% of all women said they they had been sexually harassed in public in the UK 

53% of women experience sexual harassment in a pub, club or bar

One in five LGBT people have a hate crime or incident because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the last 12 months.

A local survey undertaken by the Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) in 2021 highlighted that: 

67% of female respondents had experienced harassment, intimidation or violence in a public place 

92% feared walking down subways or alleyways 92% feared walking down subways or alleyways 

90% feared walking in poorly lit areas in the night-time economy. 

You can find out more on the Violence Reduction Alliance website.