Calls for code word to end ‘dodgy dates’
A CODE-WORD campaign for people stuck on dodgy dates could throw ‘a lifeline’ to potential victims of sexual violence and abuse.
Those who are feeling unsafe in Manchester’s nightspots would be encouraged to visit the bar and ‘Ask for Angela’ as part of the innovative new scheme.
Ask for Angela helps people stuck in vulnerable or potentially dangerous situations in pubs and bars to get out quickly and safely.
The campaign, which is a play on the word guardian angel, has already proved successful in Lincolnshire, where it was first trialled. Now Didsbury West councillor John Leech is calling on Manchester council to implement the scheme across the city.
The former Withington MP said the council should take a leading role in tackling sexual abuse and violence.
He said: “Ask for Angela has been proven to work and could dramatically increase the safety of people in Manchester.
“As the popularity of apps like Tinder and Grindr continue to increase, more and more people are rightly meeting up with their dates in public bars and pubs, and we need to make sure we are one step ahead to ensure that no one is left in a situation they feel they can’t get out of. “Implementing Ask for Angela in Manchester will ensure a lifeline for those people who unfortunately do find themselves stuck in an uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situation.” John Leech The scheme would alert staff that potentially-vulnerable people, or those feeling uncomfortable, needed help getting out of the bar quickly, safely and without any fuss.
Earlier this year, Coun Leech accused Tinder and Grindr bosses of a ‘serious and shocking lapse in care.’
His comments came after figures revealed 17 people in Greater Manchester had complained about being raped in the past four years by someone they met on one of the dating apps.
The Lib Dem wrote to the two companies calling on bosses to put in place safety notices and ‘dramatically increase’ the safety of users.