Police praise bar staff

Police have praised bar staff in Cambridge for their commitment to a scheme that aims to help people in danger.

Last month, the BBC released undercover footage of bar staff failing to recognise Ask for Angela at several venues in London.

The Ask for Angela initiative was rolled out to thousands of bars, pubs and clubs nationwide from 2016.

Aimed primarily at women, it was designed to give those who feel uncomfortable or in a dangerous situation, a discreet way to approach staff for help by “asking for Angela”.

Following the BBC’s report, Cambridgeshire officers visited six popular venues in Cambridge to check if frontline staff knew about the scheme.

Officers found they had good knowledge, with two bars giving an “outstanding” response.

Superintendent Adam Gallop said: “Although the BBC report was alarming, and while I was confident this would not be the case in Cambridge, it seemed a good opportunity to reiterate the importance of the scheme ahead of the White Ribbon 16 Days of Action which tackles violence against women and girls.

“Along with our partners, we work closely with the night-time economy businesses to make our cities and towns as safe as possible.

“The results are very reassuring, and as we enter the Christmas period and the city centres get busier, its important people know if they have any concerns they can ask for Angela.” 

For more information on Ask for Angela or other support available, visit our dedicated pages.