Almost 300 venues across Northern Ireland have signed up for the PSNI's 'Ask for Angela' scheme since launching in December.
The scheme is in place so that anyone who is feeling unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’.
This code phrase will indicate to staff that you require help, and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist you.
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As Valentine's Day approaches, Police working with partners in the Hospitality Sector are continuing in their promotions of this initiative in the run-up to make people aware that help is available in supporting venues across Northern Ireland.
Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said: “Whilst the majority of people using online dating sites and apps are doing so with honest intentions, our experiences show us there are people on there who may not be who they say they are or who display sexual predatory behaviour.
“With people heading out this weekend to celebrate Valentine’s we are likely to see an increase in people meeting someone they have been chatting to online, in person for the first time and we want to ensure they do this safely.
“If you are making the decision to meet somebody for the first time face to face, make sure to meet in a public place, make friends and family aware of this meeting and your location and don’t be afraid to raise the alarm if something doesn’t feel right."
Police are urging even more local venues to sign up to this safeguarding initiative.
Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher added: “Neighbourhood Policing Teams are out and about at this time, encouraging as many local businesses as possible to sign up. We know our hospitality sector is already committed to keeping people safe, by signing up to this scheme they are making a public pledge to help and support their customers when they need them the most.
“We have also just marked National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, where we revealed that last year 4,135 people reported sexual violence and abuse. 338 of which, happened in online spaces like some of the popular online dating platforms and other chat apps.
“People are not always who they say they are and not everything online is as it seems in reality. We are asking local venues, that haven’t already, to register and access the ‘Ask for Angela’ training so they can support customers who may need their help.”
Here is a full list of venues in NI signed up for the scheme:
- Abbey Medical Practice
- Absolute Organic Wine Limited
- AC Hotel
- Adair Arms Hotel
- AMPM
- Armagh City Hotel
- AV Taxis
Ballygally Castle Hotel
Banbridge Rugby Club
Bayview hotel
Belfast Central Mission
Beannchor
Beechlawn Hotel
Belvoir Players Amateur Dramatic Society
Blackie River Community Groups
Bob's Bar and Bistro
Bogans Bar
Bootleggers
Brew Bar Ltd
Brickwork Bar
British Legion Club
Buba
Bullhouse Brew Company
Bullitt Hotel
Bureau by the Lough
BushHouse Bar
Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall
Balmoral Hotel Belfast
Campbells Eurospar
Carrickfergus Cricket club
Cassidy Hospitality Group
Charlemont Arms Hotel
Charlie's Bar
City Hotel Derry
Clayton Hotel
Coast Road Inn
Cobbles bar
Community Rescue Service
Compass Catering
Coppi
Corick House Hotel & Spa
Crusaders Football Club
Culleys Bar & Wineshop
Culloden Estate & Spa
Carrickfergus Bowling Club
Daft Eddys
Denvir's of Downpatrick
Devlins Bar
Diceys
Dobbins Inn
Donaghadee Golf Club
Donegans Bar & Restaurant
Duke of York
Dark Horse
East Belfast Constitutional Club
Errigle Inn
Europa Hotel
Eventsec
Everglades Hotel
Extern
Ederney GP Practice
Faith Mission Bookshop
Fountain Lane
Frank Owen's Bar
Fratelli
Friar Tucks
Friels Bar and Restaurant
Front Page Bar
Fitzwilliam Hotel
Ginger janes
Golflinks Hotel Portrush
Grand Central Hotel
Grand Opera House
Great Hall
Greenisland War Memorial Sports Club
Greenvale Hotel
Glenwinny Limited
Hampton by Hilton Belfast City Centre
Haslem Hotel
Hatfield House
Haymarket Belfast
Henry's
Hill Tavern Bar
Hilton Templepatrick
Holiday Inn
Homeplace Café
Horatio Todds
Harp Bar
Ibis Belfast City Centre
Ivanhoe Hotel
Ibis Belfast Queens Quarter
Joeys Bar
Killeavy Castle Estate
Libertine Belfast
Ligoniel Pigeon Club
Linen Hall Library
Linfield Supporters Social Club
Lurgan Golf Club
Mahons Hotel
Marine Hotel
Mary McBride's Ltd
Mary's Bar
Maverick Bar Belfast
McConville’s Bar
MCM security
Mercury Security and Facilities Management
Millbrook Lodge Hotel
Mulkerns Eurospar
Murphy's Bar
Margot
Nan Rices Bar
No.47 Cookstown
Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports & Social Club
No.14 at the Georgian House Ltd
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Parisien
Patsy's Bar
PB's Bar
Peadar O'Donnell's
Phoenix Bar
Portrush Atlantic Hotel
Portside Inn
Pug Uglys
Pats Bar
Queen's University Belfast
Railway Arms
Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd
Richardson's Bar
Riddel Hall
Robinson Services Ltd
Rocking Chair Bar
Roe Park Resort
Ronnie Drews Bar
Rosie Joes
Rubys
Ryans Bar
Ramblers Enniskillen
Ten Square Hotel
The 4th Wall Armagh
The American Bar
The Anchor Bar Complex
The Bannville Hotel
The Botanic Inn
The Black Box Trust
The Blackstone Bar
The Bone Yard
The Bridge Bar
The Bush Tavern
The Bushmills Inn
The Cellar Bar
The Central Bar/ Fa' Joe's
The Coach Inn
The Coachman
The Depot Venue
The Derg Arms
The Dirty Duck
The Dundrum Inn
The Enniskillen Hotel
The Fuzzy Beak Restaurant
The Galgorm
The Garrick Bar
The Grouse
The Jailhouse
The Kilmorey Arms Hotel
The Limelight Belfast Ltd
The Londonderry Arms Hotel
The Maldron Hotel Belfast City
The Maypole
The Merchant Hotel
The Northern Whig
The SSE Arena
The Old Inn
The Park Bar
The Poachers Pocket
The Poet
The Puffin Gallery / Spottens
The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat
The Railway Bar
The Roadside Tavern
The Royal Oak
The Rusty Keg
The Sipster
The Slemish Bar
The Station
The Union Bar
The Vineyard
The Whistledown Hotel
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Titanic Hotel Belfast
Top of the Town
Tullyglass House Hotel
Turf Lodge Tenants Association
Ulster Sports Club
Ulster University - Coleraine Campus
Ulster University - Jordanstown
Ulster University - Derry/Londonderry Campus
Ulster University - Belfast Campus
Viscopic medical LTD
Waterfall Bar
White's Tavern
Windsor Holiday Park
Wine Inns
WRTUK
Whitecliff Holdings
39 Gordon Street
55 Degrees North
For more information about 'Ask for Angela', see here
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