More venues can join 'Ask for Angela' safety scheme

The Ask for Angela initiative has been operational in Northampton and parts of West Northamptonshire, but is being expanded

More bars and clubs across a county are getting the chance to join a safety scheme designed to help people feel secure on a night out.

The "Ask for Angela" initiative, where people in distress can get a coded message to venue staff that they need help, is being rolled out across the whole West Northamptonshire Council area.

Venues are being asked to sign up, which involves some staff training. Once done, they can put posters in their windows to let revellers know about their safety accreditation.

Jane Carr, chair of West Northants Community Safety Partnership, said: "Ask for Angela is a vital part of our ongoing commitment to making our night-time economy a welcoming and safe space for all."

The Ask for Angela scheme is now open to venues across the whole of West Northamptonshire

"Ask for Angela" has been operating in some parts of the county and other areas nationwide for a few years. It was named in memory of Angela Phillips, a woman who was abused and killed by her husband in 2012.

If someone discreetly 'asks for Angela' when speaking to venue staff, it gives them a signal that they need help and they can be taken to a safe space.

Despite its success, a recent BBC investigation found that 13 of 25 venues visited elsewhere in the country failed to respond correctly to the Angela request.

In Northamptonshire, a formal list of participating venues is being compiled, with each site receiving training and continued support from local authorities and safety partners.

Simon Moreton, Northamptonshire Police's licensing sergeant, said the scheme "provides another avenue for people who feel unsafe to get help".

"If someone you have met is making you feel uncomfortable, exiting the situation can often feel difficult. The discreet nature of the Ask for Angela scheme gives people an easy way out and that's something we wholeheartedly support," he said.