Have you heard of the Ask for Angela campaign? #AskforAngela

The UK Metropolitan Police Service is working with venues across London to help prevent and reduce sexual violence and vulnerability by promoting the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign initiated by Lincolnshire County Council.

TO ALL DJ’S, DOOR STAFF, BAR STAFF, MANAGERS
INFO…

A DJ was approached while working, by a young girl and asked for the first time, “Is Angela working tonight?” – having read about the #AskforAngela initiative, He knew instantly what she was referencing, he said yes, told her to jump in the DJ booth with him, (she was extremely nervous…) and in turn asked the nearest security guard the same question. Luckily, he too knew, and the young girl was escorted through the back of the venue, and into a taxi immediately. Her “date” upon returning from the bathroom was asked to leave by management, he without delay turned violent and security stepped-in.

Basically, #AskforAngela is a scheme in place (established in the UK) which aims at reducing sexual violence, and vulnerability, by providing WOMEN and MEN, with a subtle phrase to assist getting them out of potentially dangerous, and helpless situations. First-dates, Tinder-dates or frankly getting home alone, after a night out can, unfortunately (history-proven) be a risk. I urge all DJs, venues, those in hospitality/night-life to look into the concept and educate yourselves and your staff. It may seem extreme, but sometimes you may be someones only option.
Thanks.

What is the Ask for Angela campaign?

According to Hayley Child, Substance Misuse and Sexual Violence & Abuse Strategy Coordinator for Lincolnshire County Council:
“We’d seen that a few individual pubs around the country had done similar messages at the bar saying that if people’s dates weren’t going well the bar staff would help and call them a cab. We wanted to do this in a more organised way and worked with the pubwatch schemes in Lincolnshire to get the bars to take part.

“The ‘Ask for Angela’ posters are part of our wider #NoMore campaign which aims to promote a culture change in relation to sexual violence and abuse, promote services in Lincolnshire and empower victims to make a decision on whether to report incidents. Sexual abuse and violence is a national issue and all councils have a responsibility to tackle abuse. This was Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership’s first awareness-raising campaign on this issue.”

“We have had a really positive response to the campaign, including thanks from victims of abuse for the work that’s being done. The campaign has been supported by many professional partners in the county and we will be relaunching #NoMore in February to tie in with the National Sexual Violence and Abuse awareness week.”

“Around the country and the world people have sent us messages saying what a great idea this is, and the response has been amazing!”

See www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/nomore for more information.

For further advice and queries, or if you are a licensed premises looking to support this campaign, please contact: LicensingGovernancePartnershipHub@met.police.uk

If you have any further info about this campaign or seen it in use, please do leave a comment below