Aberdeen has become the first city in Scotland to adopt a simple ‘safe word campaign’ to help people who do not feel safe while on a date or a night out.
The ‘Ask for Angela’ initiative lets bar and restaurant staff know when a customer feels unsafe if they ask whether Angela is working, allowing them to step in and help out.
The campaign was originally created by Lincolnshire County Council last autumn and quickly became a worldwide smash hit after a student in the city posted a picture of a poster on Twitter.
i saw this in a toilet and thought it was important and should be a thing everywhere not just lincolnshire !!!! pic.twitter.com/oO45I7gaJL
— strawberry girl (@iizzzzzi) October 18, 2016
It was retweeted close to 40,000 times by social media users across the globe - and even reached the attention of Hollywood.
Actor Ashton Kutcher posted an image of the poster onto his Facebook page, and said it was “a great idea.”
Now, though, posters advertising the campaign will be placed in both male and female toilets in Aberdeen and will also be promoted via social media.
So far, more than 25 city venues are taking part in the campaign.
Aberdeen City Council Licensing Board convener and deputy leader, Councillor Marie Boulton, said the initiative is another example of “the great work” undertaken by community safety partners aimed at ensuring a safe night time experience for residents and visitors to the city.
A Rape Crisis Grampian spokeswoman added: “We support those who are survivors of rape and sexual violence. We are extremely keen to promote prevention and are so happy the Community Safety Partnership, Police Scotland, and Unight Aberdeen have all come together to back this campaign.
“We hope the Ask for Angela posters will give both men and women the confidence to ask for help and support and know that someone is there to help them.”
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