As featured on the BBC One Show

Serve Legal on the One Show, discussing ‘Ask for Angela’

The BBC One Show invited Serve Legal to discuss ‘Ask for Angela’, the safeguarding scheme that allows anyone who feels unsafe to discreetly ask venue staff for help.

Serve Legal was invited because of our work assessing how effectively the scheme operates in practice. We independently audit pubs, bars and venues to evaluate whether staff recognise the code and respond appropriately, giving operators objective evidence of how their safeguarding measures perform.

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The full BBC One Show feature will be added here once it has been released.

76%

of hospitality staff reported receiving no formal Ask for Angela training

Source: Serve Legal research, 2025

As featured on BBC One Show National feature on the Ask for Angela safety scheme

93%

have heard of Ask for Angela

85%

say it makes a venue feel safer

73%

feel personally safer when it is in place

76%

of venue staff had no formal training

Source: Serve Legal research, 2025

Why it matters

The real-world impact of ‘Ask for Angela’

When implemented well, the scheme can make a meaningful difference to someone’s safety. The following are genuine accounts shared through Serve Legal’s 2025 research.

“

I asked the bar staff for Angela. They took me into a back room, checked I was okay, and helped me out of the situation by removing the man from the premises.

ASurvey respondent
Serve Legal 2025 research

“

My ex, who I had a police report against, approached me and I felt unsafe. I asked if Angela was working, and within moments staff took me to a safe area, booked a taxi and made sure I got home safely.

RSurvey respondent
Serve Legal 2025 research

Why it matters for businesses

85% of people say Ask for Angela makes a venue feel safer, and 73% feel personally safer knowing it is in place. However, the scheme only offers genuine protection when staff are trained to respond. With 76% of venue staff reporting no formal training, visible branding without operational readiness can create a false sense of safety and expose operators to reputational and regulatory risk.

Source: Serve Legal, ‘76% Untrained: Unpacking the Ask for Angela Initiative’ (2025).

Our role in safer venues

Helping make every venue a place people can trust

As an independent auditing partner, Serve Legal helps operators turn Ask for Angela from a visible commitment into a consistent, real-world standard, with tailored venue safety audits delivered across the UK, Ireland and beyond.

Pubs & bars

Where Ask for Angela is most expected, and most often untested during busy trading.

Late-night venues & clubs

High-pressure, high-footfall environments where the speed of staff response is critical.

Events & festivals

Temporary teams and large crowds make consistent safeguarding harder to guarantee.

Stadiums & arenas

Large-scale venues balancing crowd management with individual welfare.

Shopping centres & retail parks

High-footfall public spaces where visitor safety and clear signage matter.

Councils & place management

Night-time economy and town-centre schemes that need independent assurance.

What our auditors assess

Real-world checks, on a normal trading day

Whether staff recognise the Ask for Angela code and respond correctly

The confidence, speed and appropriateness of staff intervention

Spiking awareness and clear reporting routes

Crowd management and queue / pinch-point control

Emergency exits, signage, access and obstructions

Martyn’s Law readiness and customer safety procedures

Speak to our team Venue Safety Audits

Free download: the Ask for Angela venue readiness checklist. A two-minute self-check for operators.

Get the checklist

Ask for Angela FAQs

Ask for Angela, answered

Clear answers to the questions operators and the public ask most about the scheme.

What is Ask for Angela?

Ask for Angela is a safeguarding scheme that lets anyone who feels unsafe in a venue discreetly ask staff for help by asking for 'Angela'. Trained staff then step in calmly and follow the person's lead to help them out of the situation.

Does Ask for Angela actually work?

Ask for Angela works when staff are trained to recognise and respond to it. Serve Legal's 2025 research found that 85% of people feel a venue is safer when the scheme is in place, yet 76% of hospitality staff reported receiving no formal training, which can leave the scheme ineffective when it is needed most.

How can a venue check that Ask for Angela is working?

The most reliable way is an independent venue safety audit. Serve Legal's trained auditors visit during normal trading conditions and assess whether staff recognise the code and respond appropriately, giving operators objective evidence rather than assumptions.

Why is Ask for Angela training important for businesses?

Without trained staff, Ask for Angela branding can create a false sense of safety and expose operators to reputational and regulatory risk. Consistent training and independent checks ensure the scheme genuinely protects customers and supports staff.

Which venues should use Ask for Angela?

Ask for Angela is relevant anywhere people gather, including pubs, bars, late-night venues, clubs, events, festivals, stadiums, arenas, shopping centres and council-managed spaces across the night-time economy.

Explore our Venue Safety Audits or read the full Ask for Angela research.

Your next step

Ensure your ‘Ask for Angela’ delivers in practice

A visible commitment to safety must be matched by consistent delivery. Serve Legal provides a clear, evidence-based picture of how your venues perform, along with practical recommendations to address any gaps.

Independent, real-world venue safety audits
Nationwide coverage across the UK & Ireland
Clear, data-led reporting you can act on

Speak to our team

Tell us about your venues and we will be in touch.

Prefer email? Contact the team directly.