Women who fear they may be sexually assaulted while out at a bar are being urged to utter the word ‘Angela’ if they feel unsafe.
A new campaign being launched in New South Wales on Tuesday encourages women at risk to ‘Ask for Angela’ at hotels, pubs and clubs in Sydney.
The rise in strangers willing to meet through dating apps has led to the Government, police and bars to take action, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Police Minister Troy Grant told the publication he does not want people to feel ‘intimidated’ or ‘threatened’ when they are socialising in the city.
Women fearing they will be sexually assaulted at a bar are being urged to utter the word ‘Angela’ if they feel unsafe
‘Given the increasing popularity of online dating apps, many people are meeting for dates at bars, clubs and pubs having never met beyond the screens of their phone or computer,’ he said.
Crime statistics published by NSW Police reveal sexual assaults in NSW have increased by 7.2 per cent in the past two years up to March 2018.
Indecent assault and other sexual offences have also increased by 6.3 per cent in the same time frame.
Staff will be trained to help women who ‘ask for Angela’ to leave the bar safely, call the police, or lead them to a secure place within the venue
Staff will be trained to help women who ‘ask for Angela’ to leave the bar safely, call the police, or lead them to a secure place within the venue.
Jade Pearce, 25, told News Corp she would be more likely to meet a man online, knowing the safety measure in place.
‘Some of of the stories I’ve heard from my friends are really scary, with men they’ve met online being quite pushy and sleazy,’ she said.
‘The fact that the staff are now more aware of these kinds of situations makes me more inclined to meet up with people at bars.’
The campaign is based on a Lincolnshire County Council campaign that started in the UK in 2016.
The campaign is based on a Lincolnshire County Council campaign that started in the UK in 2016