Code word campaign helps people escape bad dates by alerting bar staff discreetly
The scheme has been praised for highlighting problems people can face with upsetting or unsafe dates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A campaign against sexual violence has come up with a genius way of helping people escape bad dates where they feel unsafe.
Posters put up in bars and other social areas by Lincolnshire Rape Crisis instruct anyone on a date which makes them feel upset or unsafe they can go to the bar and ask to “speak to Angela”. The phrase is a code word to alert staff to the situation and help them diffuse it and ensure the person is safe.
The posters advise: “Are you on a date that isn’t working out? Is your Tinder or POF [Plenty of Fish] date not who they said they were on their profile? Do you feel like you’re not in a safe situation? Does it all feel a bit weird?
“If you go to the bar and ask for ‘Angela’ the bar staff will know you need help getting out of your situation and will call you a taxi or help you out discreetly- without too much fuss.”
Hayley Child, Substance Misuse and Sexual Violence & Abuse Strategy Coordinator for Lincolnshire County Council, told The Independent: “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 an 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.”
A woman spotted the poster in the gender neutral toilets of a bar in Lincoln and posted an image of it online.
She wrote: "I saw this in a toilet and thought it was important and should be a thing everywhere not just lincolnshire".
The poster has since gone viral, amassing over 20,000 RTs on Twitter. The campaign has been inundated with praise as well as calls for it to be rolled out on a wider basis.
One user tweeted: “I think it’s a great idea and could save lives.” Another wrote: “What a great idea! Hope it catches in other places”.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments