A new initiative aimed at combating harassment in cafés, bars, and restaurants in Luxembourg has been launched under the name 'Ask for Angela'.
The scheme allows people who find themselves in uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situations, such as being harassed or threatened during a night out or on a date, to ask staff for help without drawing attention to themselves.
So far, eleven venues across Luxembourg City, Esch, Dudelange, and Grevenmacher have signed up.
The concept is straightforward: if a customer feels unsafe or is being harassed, they can approach the bar and simply ask if 'Angela' is working. This signals to staff, who have undergone special training, that the person needs assistance, enabling them to intervene discreetly and offer help without escalating the situation.
Terri Allington, who brought the project to Luxembourg after encountering the concept in the UK, explains that one must just ask the staff if Angela is working and does not need to give a lengthy explanation. "You’ll be taken to a safe place and asked what you need”, she adds. The priority is always to quickly bring the person to safety.
The initiative’s name is no coincidence. Hayley Crawford, who first launched 'Ask for Angela' in the UK, named it in memory of Angela Philips, a woman who was killed by her husband.
Crawford explains that she wanted to select a name with a deeper meaning, and Angela was the ideal choice because it represents a person who offers help and support to those who may be in danger.
The need for such an initiative is clear, according to Jérôme, owner of Caribou, which is the first bar in Luxembourg to sign up. “We have been open for eight months, and since opening we have had incidents about every two weeks. There is a real need, but not enough transparency. Terri and her non-profit 'Ask for Angela' are opening doors here”, he says.
Terri Allington and a team of volunteers have spent months meeting with café, bar, and restaurant owners to encourage participation, but not every owner has embraced the project. Some have claimed their venues do not have any problems, but Allington notes that taking part is simple and that the training takes only fifteen to twenty minutes.
The police have also welcomed the initiative. Bob Leesch, Director of Operations, notes that this is a good way to discreetly ask for help without putting yourself in more danger. Police intend to brief and train staff at 113, the national emergency intervention centre, to respond appropriately.
Despite the clear public need, 'Ask for Angela' in Luxembourg is funded almost entirely by Terri Allington herself, with no public support.
All requests for government assistance have been turned down. Allington has invested around €7,000 of her own money and is now seeking private partners to help expand the project.
The initiative was officially presented in Luxembourg on Monday evening. While no Luxembourg politicians were in attendance, the British ambassador was present to support the launch.
