The New Safety Net Townsville Girls Can Use

Eighteen licensed venues from the Townsville Liquor Accord Incorporated (TLAI) launched their “Ask for Angela” initiative last Friday.

Ask for Angela is an initiative of the Lincolnshire County Council in the United Kingdom that was developed to assist people who meet in person for the first time after chatting on dating applications and the person is not really who their profile says they are.

Members of the Townsville Liquor Accord see the roll-out of Ask for Angela as an acknowledgement that times are changing.

Ask for Angela is a campaign that allows customers who could be feeling threatened or unsafe on a date to get help by approaching the bar staff and “Asking for Angela”. Posters will be displayed in women’s bathrooms, prompting them on the procedure if they feel unsafe.

Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder backs the initiative.

“The Ask for Angela concept, while new to Townsville, will assist anyone who finds themselves at a licensed venue and feels unsafe,” Superintendent Rohweder said.

“They can come to the bar staff and ask for Angela and they will be able to provide them with advice as to how they should go about resolving the situation.”

As part of the accord’s initiative, venue staff at licensed premises have been provided with guidelines as to how to assist patrons who have asked for Angela at the bar. These measures include organising transport from the venue or calling the police.

*It’s important to note Ask for Angela does not replace the need for you to call the police if there is actual or threatened violence.