A NEW campaign has been launched in the district to help anyone who feels threatened or unsafe on a night out.

Licensed premises are being encouraged to take part in the Ask for Angela initiative, which is spearheaded by Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police.

Under the scheme, anybody who feels at risk can approach staff at a participating venue and ask for 'Angela' – which will indicate they are in need of help.

Premises supporting the venture will display Ask for Angela posters.

The campaign was launched locally to coincide with UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Letters have been sent by Bradford Council’s licensing department to venues district-wide urging them to adopt and promote the scheme.

Councillor Abdul Jabar, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: "Although the launch coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, it is aimed at anyone who feels unsafe and needs some help on a night out.

"We are encouraging all licensed premises across the district to pledge to adopt the campaign."

Superintendent Lee Berry, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "The issue of women’s safety is rightly a key national and local priority and we understand the genuine concerns that women have.

"As a force we seek to support any initiative which looks to improve women’s safety and we welcome the launch of Ask for Angela for the Bradford area.

"The scheme has been in use for some time in other parts of the country and we are pleased its introduction is being supported in Leeds and now Bradford as a way of providing extra support for people who may feel unsafe or threatened.

"Women should feel confident to walk the streets of West Yorkshire and in our night-time economy and we remain committed to working with partner organisations to make the county a safer place to live and work in.

"We also know we don’t have all the answers and need to hear women’s experiences and concerns to better inform what we do in the future."

Ask for Angela was originally launched in 2016 by Lincolnshire County Council.

The campaign is backed by National Pubwatch, an organisation that supports UK licensed premises to achieve safe, secure and responsibly-led social drinking environments.

Ask for Angela has also recently been reintroduced by the Metropolitan Police.

For more about the campaign, visit bradford.gov.uk/business/licensing/ask-for-angela.