L'derry bars adopt 'Ask for Angela’ safety scheme
Almost all of Derry’s city centre bars and other licensed premises have signed up to help anyone in danger or distress
Last updated 24th Feb 2022
“Ask For Angela” – a safety scheme designed to help vulnerable people escape public harassment and violence – is being rolled out in Londonderry.
The initiative allows people to discreetly seek help by approaching staff and ask to speak to ‘Angela’, or ask if ‘Angela is working’.
The code-phrase indicates a person requires help, and a member of staff will then look to support and assist them.
Stephen Henry a community volunteer from Derry has encouraged bars and different establishments across the city centre to sign up to the initiative.
Stephen thinks the code-phrase is not as well known in Northern Ireland as it was originally developed by Lincolnshire County Council and then adopted by the Metropolitan police in 2016.
He said: “I decided to talk to local businesses, bars and restaurants about it and they were very receptive about it.
“It’s basically just to get you to a safe space and make sure you’re okay.
“Getting it into one place encouraged me to have a go and before I knew it, we’re up now to almost the entire city centre of Derry.
“It’s just the passion that built up that there could be more safety in the city centre at night, which is just not there.”
Now thanks to Stephen’s efforts various staff members are now being trained to respond the code-phrase.
He added: “By introducing a small phrase and bringing all the establishments on board to bar staff, security, entertainment, DJ’s and stuff, it opens the whole place up to be a safe zone.
“A lot of people find it hard to ask for help.
“Now they can now go into the establishment and use the code ‘is Angela working’ and you will be taken to a safe place or discretely get a taxi or staff will work to get you home safely.
“I’m so proud!
"The fact that one bar took it in, but we’re up now to over thirty.
“Hopefully we will finish off with everyone on board.
“The feedback has been unbelievable.”
However, Stephen said he has tried to expand the intuitive further by encouraging anyone at home who may be in distress – for whatever reason – to come into the city Centre and 'Ask for Angela'.
He said: “I’ve tweaked it now if someone is in the town centre they don’t need to be in that establishment.
“If they feel in a bit of distress or they’re just in the town on their own, or maybe they’re at home going through something like domestic abuse, they can now come into town and approach these businesses.
“It’s a bit sad that something needed to be done like this.
“Derry is not an unsafe place, it is a safe place, this is just another measure to help people that come into the city centre”
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