Merton has become the first borough in London to roll out a scheme aimed at helping people get away from unwanted attention or uncomfortable dates.

The ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme, which was started by Lincolnshire County Council in September, will see posters going up in pubs and bars across the borough offering advice to anyone who needs to make a speedy exit.

The posters read: ‘Are you on a date that isn’t working out? Is your Tinder or POF [online dating service Plenty of Fish] date not who they said they were on their profile?

‘Do you feel like you’re not in a safe situation? Does it all feel a bit weird?

‘If you go to the bar and ‘Ask for Angela’, the bar staff will know you need some help getting out of your situation and will call you a taxi or help you out discreetly – without too much fuss.’

A similar poster has been displayed in the Hand & Racquet pub in Wimbledon for several months, but told customers to ask for ‘Rachelle’ or ‘Jennifer’. However, in order to support the scheme, the pub has now agreed to change its poster to encourage customers to ask for Angela.

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Police licensing officer, PC Russ Stevens, has been behind the introduction of the scheme across Merton, and is hoping the good feedback it has received so far will help to spread it across the whole of London.

He said: “The poster scheme is designed to provide confidence in asking for discreet assistance in the knowledge that premises staff are trained to help.

“Staff may take them to one side or to another room away from where they are, where they can offer them discreet assistance. That may be because there’s someone who is pursuing or pestering them, or something else.

“We are raising awareness and telling our licensed premises to show more responsibility towards their customers’ wellbeing. We are also telling staff to look out for when customers look uncomfortable and offer assistance, rather than just waiting for them to come forward.”

Merton Council’s cabinet member for children’s services and lead councillor on domestic violence issues, Councillor Katy Neep, said: “Merton is one of London’s safest boroughs, and ensuring that people feel safe and supported in Merton is top of our agenda.

“Being the first London borough to roll out ‘Ask for Angela’ demonstrates our commitment to this. I hope that any individual who feels a situation is not quite right will be able to ask for help and get the support they need using this innovative campaign.”

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