Hospitality venues got involved in the Ask for Angela scheme in 2021
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032743
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. How many hospitality venues got involved in the Ask for Angela scheme in 2021 after its launch?
2. How many of these venues took up the offer for specialist training for their staff on this scheme?
3. How many are currently involved? What did MPS do exactly to promote this scheme?
4. What steps are MPS taking to ensure Ask for Angela continues to be promoted across London?
5. What statistics does MPS have regarding the awareness levels of this scheme?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
With reference to Questions 1, 3 & 5, we regret to advise that the data requested is not recorded by the MPS and is therefore not held. This is because ‘Ask for Angela’ (AFA) is a campaign that is utilised across London by numerous organisations that are separate from the MPS and the MPS do not collate figures for the number of hospitality venues involved in the scheme.
The AFA campaign forms a part of Welfare & Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training, which is delivered by officers across the MPS every month. This training is designed to help tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) at licensed premises and aims to create a safer night-time environment for women and girls. The training sessions look to increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of those working in licensed premises in order to identify vulnerability and offender behaviour.
With reference to Question 2, our records show that in 2022, a total of 738 venues were trained. Please note, however, that although this figure is recorded, it may not be accurate and this is because individual BCUs conduct WAVE and AFA training sessions but may not have filed returns.
With reference to Question 4, as the scheme is voluntary and not run by the MPS, we can only encourage uptake of the scheme. We do this via the WAVE training sessions and also work in partnership to support other organisations, e.g., the Safer Business Network (please see the link below), who deliver WAVE and AFA training regularly. In addition to this, where there is an identified risk or need, the MPS actively encourages relevant (licensed) premises in an area to undertake WAVE and to adopt AFA.
DUTY TO ADVISE & ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist applicants in making requests for information and I have provided some information below.
Please see the following links which contain details that you may also find useful.
Ask for Angela (AFA)
Safer Sounds Partnership – WAVE Programme
Ask for Angela (AFA) – Met Police Website
https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/campaigns/ask-for-angela/#:~:text=People%20who%20feel%20unsafe%2C%20vulnerable,to%20support%20and%20assist%20them.
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