Undercover BBC Investigation Reveals Pubs’ Failure to Implement Customer Safety Scheme

An undercover inquiry conducted by the BBC has discovered that establishments such as pubs, bars, and clubs, despite their commitment to a program intended to safeguard patrons feeling unsafe, are failing to put it into practice. The Ask for Angela initiative, a program adopted by thousands of locations across the country, seeks to offer a confidential support mechanism for individuals who perceive themselves to be at risk. Individuals experiencing such concerns are instructed to utter the code word “Angela” to signal to employees that they require assistance. However, covert video recordings by BBC investigators revealed that employees in over 50% of the London establishments visited, which included prominent chains, did not react appropriately to the designated code word. The BBC also gathered comparable accounts from various regions throughout the UK. This revelation emerges as an increasing number of local authorities are making involvement in the scheme a crucial factor for issuing alcohol licenses. The inquiry determined that personnel at major chains such as Greene King, JD Wetherspoon, and Simmons were among those who did not identify the code word. Greene King expressed apprehension regarding the BBC’s discoveries and committed to examining the method by which the scheme was conveyed to its staff. JD Wetherspoon stated that it had effectively managed numerous instances of distressed patrons utilizing the scheme but would offer further training if required. Simmons did not issue a statement. The Ask for Angela initiative, primarily intended for women but accessible to any individual experiencing insecurity at a participating venue, has expanded from the UK to nations globally, including Canada and the Netherlands. The program bears the name of Angela Crompton, who was killed by her spouse. Employees undergo specific instruction to identify “Angela” as an indication that someone requires assistance. Upon recognizing the code word, personnel are expected to intervene subtly, aiding the individual in reaching safety by reconnecting them with companions, arranging a taxi, or contacting law enforcement if warranted. Establishments frequently publicize their involvement conspicuously, displaying posters and stickers across their sites, especially in female restrooms, and also promoting it digitally. Certain individuals report deliberately choosing these locations when planning social engagements or evenings out, considering the program a protective measure. A woman, identified by the BBC solely as “Kay”, recounted her experience of arranging a first meeting with a man. “It was fine at first,” she informed the BBC. “But then the night just kept getting worse and worse.” Moments after they were seated, her companion started touching her in an improper manner. “He started playing with my hand, and I just froze,” she narrated, visibly distressed. “I pulled my hand back. I put it behind my neck. And he just kept saying, ‘give me my hand, give me my hand’.” When she attempted to depart, his conduct deteriorated. “We got up and then he grabbed me by my waist. And he slid his hand all the way down. I was scared and also just a bit shocked at what’s happening because I’m like, ‘leave me alone’.” Kay was unaware of the Ask for Angela scheme at the time but believes it might have been beneficial, and she now consciously looks for establishments that implement it. Acting on information received from women and bar employees, BBC investigators pretended to be a couple on a date to evaluate venues that openly advertised their participation. At a particular establishment, our covert female researcher approached the bar, feigning distress during a date, and inquired: “Is there anyone called Angela working?” “Who?” was the perplexed reply. “Angela.” “Er, no.” “Are you sure?” “Positive.” At another participating location, identified by the BBC as The White Bear in Hounslow, west London, an individual who presented himself as the manager had no knowledge of the program. He informed our researcher: “Nobody called Angela here… 100%, I’m the manager – I know my staff.” Upon further questioning, he appended: “Not in the last four years that I’ve been here.” The White Bear declined to respond to our inquiries but communicated that the individual was no longer employed there and that any “insights” derived from the BBC’s engagement with him were “outdated and misrepresentative”. These occurrences were not singular; 13 out of the 25 establishments examined did not react suitably to the Angela code word. Hootananny in Brixton, south London, was one of the venues that effectively showed how the scheme ought to function. When a female researcher requested Angela and expressed discomfort, the reaction was prompt. “Is everything alright?” the bartender inquired without delay, prior to signaling the manager. Within moments, our researcher was escorted to a secure area and was questioned: “Is there anything we can help with, or anything you want to talk to us about?” Likewise, at The White Hart in Drury Lane, central London, employees initiated their response procedure when our researcher requested Angela. The manager, Kristoff, guided her outdoors and even organized a secure refuge at an adjacent pub. “We’re going to keep him inside,” Kristoff informed our researcher. “Go to this pub on the right-hand side… Ask for Neville. He’s a friend of mine, he’s the manager over there… Stay over there for half an hour and if you want to come back, come back – we’re going to make sure he’s gone.” Public funds amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds have been allocated for the promotion and execution of Ask for Angela throughout England and Wales. Within London, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), alongside the Greater London Authority and the Met Police, are dedicating thousands of pounds, while beyond the capital, numerous councils have utilized the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund. Westminster City Council, possessing the highest number of licensed establishments among all local councils nationwide, incorporates the implementation of Ask for Angela as a factor when issuing alcohol sales licenses, a practice also followed by Camden Council and Manchester City Council. Many other councils either mandate or vigorously advocate for venues to adopt the scheme as a component of their licensing stipulations. The BBC’s inquiry implies that the observations from London could signify more extensive issues nationwide. Advocates for women’s safety and bar personnel in Oxford, sections of the West Midlands, Manchester, Coventry, Kent, and Brighton all conveyed their worries to the BBC, while women’s safety groups in Cornwall, Sheffield, and Devon reported that many venues in those areas had not embraced the scheme. In response to the BBC investigation, London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the findings as “shocking and unacceptable”. “This epidemic of violence against women and girls demands a whole society approach, and that includes those that run venues across our capital,” Khan further stated. Advocates for women’s safety are urging that the scheme be made compulsory, accompanied by appropriate enforcement. Jamie Klingler of Reclaim These Streets cautioned: “Women take a lot of risks to go out – a lot of the time for online dates or for meeting someone you don’t know. “If Ask for Angela is at a bar you’re like, ‘OK, they’ll have my back.'”To find out [the flaws in the Ask for Angela scheme], it’s more than disappointing – it’s putting women at risk.”” Sylvia Oates, the director of Ask for Angela, commented: “It’s a real concern that premises have got the poster up and then if somebody asks for Angela, it’s not successful.” She noted that the high rate of staff rotation in the hospitality sector could complicate consistent training, but emphasized that establishments bear the responsibility of ensuring their personnel are adequately instructed. She is advocating for more robust measures to guarantee adherence, including penalties, and plans to convene with Members of Parliament to explore methods for enhancing the scheme. Further reporting was contributed by Laurence Cawley. 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