Ask for Angela is a widely adopted safety initiative that lets someone who feels unsafe, uncomfortable or threatened, perhaps on a date that has gone wrong, ask staff for Angela as a discreet signal that they need help. Staff then step in quietly: they might move the person somewhere safe, call a taxi or a friend, help them leave by another exit, or contact the police if the situation warrants it, without confronting or alerting the other person. Many licensing authorities and police forces encourage participation, and it sits naturally alongside welfare training such as WAVE.
The scheme only works if everyone on every shift knows what it means, including part-timers, agency staff and new starters, so it needs to be built into induction and refreshed regularly. Posters in the toilets without trained staff behind them are worse than nothing, because they promise help that may not come. Some venues extend the idea with codes for different drinks or situations.
What we ask on the show
- How do you make sure every new starter knows about Ask for Angela?
- Have you ever had someone use it, and how did the team respond?
- Does the scheme go far enough, or is it just a starting point?
- What other discreet safety codes have you seen work?