Latest news with #forAngela
BBC News
29-04-2025
- BBC News
Sheffield school's anti-knife crime scheme nominated for award
An anti-knife crime initiative designed to help young people who are feeling unsafe find support has been shortlisted for an Ask for Nik scheme encourages anyone feeling threatened to seek discreet help in local shops and by pupils at Sheffield Park Academy, it allows people to enter participating stores and discreetly indicate to staff they do not feel safe by asking: 'Is Nik working?'The scheme had been used in the city on a number of occasions since its launch, the school said, with it now nominated for a NextGenLeaders award. Becks Wheatley, programme manager for NextGenLeaders, said: "The students came up with this idea and developed it themselves."We know it's having an impact because people are genuinely using this in the stores, they are seeking support so this is a genuinely impactful project."The scheme, which operates in eight Asda branches in Sheffield, takes a similar approach as the national Ask for Angela for Angela allows people who feel unsafe in bars or clubs to discreetly seek help. Located near All Saints Catholic High School, where 15-year-old schoolboy Harvey Willgoose was stabbed to death in February, pupils at Sheffield Park Academy said knife crime was a growing issue locally. Morgan, a student involved in the scheme, said: "There's been a few incidents. There was one at the bottom of the road where someone got stabbed in the neck and we just felt like we needed to do something."You can go into a shop and if you ask them if Nik's working, they will take you to a safer place and make sure that you are not on your own and you're not scared."After the store assistant has offered support, a trusted adult is another pupil, said: "[Harvey's death] scared me and it also woke me up to reality, because it made me realise that terrible things can happen at any time, anywhere."Students hoped the scheme would "go national" and gain wider advertising, she added. The NextGenLeaders awards in Yorkshire celebrate students who have developed ideas to make a positive impact in their communities and designed to foster a sense of social awards ceremony will take place in Leeds on 15 May. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- BBC News
Police to train hotel staff to spot child sexual exploitation
Hotel staff are getting free training from police on how to spot the signs of child sexual Mercia Police is offering online sessions, led by specialist officers, to staff in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with the first scheduled for 29 aim of the training – part of a national scheme to educate businesses such as hotels, pubs and taxi companies – is to help people understand what child sexual exploitation is, how to spot the signs and what they can Ch Insp Ed Slough said: "We know that child exploitation, in particular sexual exploitation, can often take place in hotels." He added: "We know that those working in hotels are in a prime position to spot the early signs of exploitation and flag them to us."Staff will get guidance on questions to ask to gain further information, safely and discreetly, which can then be passed to police allowing them to respond are also carrying out covert "mystery shopper" visits to hotels to see how staff respond to scenarios involving young people who could be at risk, in order to understand where there are gaps in knowledge and training. Ask for Angela The project follows concerns, recently exposed by the BBC, over another scheme to protect people in UK pubs and that had signed up to the Ask for Angela initiative were not implementing the scheme, an investigation for Angela, which allows people in fear to use the code word "Angela" to get help, aims to provide a lifeline for people who believe they are in Yardley MP Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, last year covertly tested the scheme and said the response she saw was wholly unsatisfactory. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP calls for cultural change as Commons bar set to reopen after alleged spiking
Westminster needs to 'radically reshape' its culture if it is to tackle sexual misconduct, an MP has warned as Parliament's Strangers' Bar prepares to reopen following an allegation of spiking. The bar – a popular haunt for MPs, journalists and parliamentary staff – has been closed since January 20 after a woman, reported to be a parliamentary researcher, told staff her drink had been tampered with. Following a review of safety at the bar, it is set to reopen on February 24 after MPs agreed to a series of new measures to deter further incidents, including installing CCTV and providing extra training for staff. Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who has been outspoken on the need improve behaviour in Westminster, told the PA news agency she welcomed the changes as a 'positive step', but said Parliament needed to go further. She told PA: 'Ultimately it's tinkering around the edges of the actual issue, unless we radically reshape how we deal with the culture in Parliament.' Ms Nichols added that this included, 'as a minimum first step', implementing the recommendations of the Kernaghan Review of Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Service (ICGS), and parties 'taking much more seriously their responsibilities when it comes to dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct and vetting'. Published in May last year, the review by former Hampshire chief constable Paul Kernaghan made 26 recommendations including mandatory training on Parliament's code of conduct for all MPs and requiring political parties to refer relevant complaints to the ICGS. Ms Nichols' comments were echoed by Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union – which represents some parliamentary staff, who said the changes 'go some way to addressing concerns' but also called for cultural change. He said: 'In particular, the introduction of CCTV is something Prospect has called for as an important security measure, and one which is present in virtually every other licensed premises in the country. 'It is telling however that these changes are necessary, and indicative that the overall culture at Westminster still has to change.' As well as installing CCTV, the bar will make covers for glasses available on request, increase the presence of security staff in the vicinity and provide enhanced training to bar staff. Information on 'drink safety' and links to schemes including 'Ask for Angela' will also be displayed in the bar. A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: 'The safety of everyone on the estate remains a key priority for both Houses. 'Following a review of arrangements in Strangers' Bar, the House of Commons Commission has endorsed a number of changes that aim to enhance existing safety measures and ensure the well-being of all customers who visit the bar.' The Metropolitan Police is continuing to investigate the alleged spiking, which is said to have occurred on the evening of January 7. A spokesperson for the force said no arrests had been made so far.
