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London pubs are facing backlash after reports emerged that a vital security password system, designed to help customers in distress, was not properly implemented.

An investigation found that staff at pubs, bars and clubs registered with the initiative often ignore the password, where a customer in need says “Angela” to discreetly ask for help.

The ‘Ask Angela’ scheme, aimed at making nightlife safer, particularly for vulnerable women, has been adopted by thousands of establishments across the country, but it appears it is falling short in the practice.

Helena Conibear, chief executive of drug charity the Alcohol Education Trust, said: The Independent that some staff are not properly trained on how to roll out the program.

Secret filming by BBC journalists revealed staff did not react to the code word at half of the London locations they visited – including major channels – with the corporation receiving reports that similar problems from across the UK.

Ms Connibear said: “The program itself is really good, but it’s not something that should be taken lightly or anyone should pretend to be, and it’s essential so that we trust him. »

She warned that training was not being rolled out on the ground and appealed to all clients to know they would be helped if they went and asked for Angela.

Ms Connibear said the initiative is “absolutely essential” for those who have been doped – adding that if we are to defend it we need to be able to trust it.

“I’m surprised that’s the case because it seems to be a very well-run program,” she added. “I’m shocked. We need programs like this, so I don’t want to denigrate them, but they just need to be implemented correctly.”

The Ask for Angela initiative – which is active in thousands of locations across England – is named after Angela Crompton, who was murdered by her husband. Workers are supposed to intervene discreetly when they hear the code word and bring the person to safety – either by taking them to their friends, calling a taxi or contacting the police if necessary.

Bryony Beynon, co-founder of campaign group Good Night Out, said they “have been campaigning for ten years for gender-based violence prevention to be a condition of licensing, but we are very concerned that guidance specifically links this to response patterns based on coded words.” .

She added: “As the BBC investigation sadly shows, this approach can end up turning what should be a key security priority into a box-ticking exercise.

“Sexual harassment is about having your choices taken away and being silenced. Any response pattern that, intentionally or unintentionally, reproduces these two feelings in a victim will need to be improved to be effective in practice.

Ms Benyon argued that they have too often seen that “light implementation” of the system “can lead to a policy of ‘just call him a cab’, banishing victims while leaving perpetrators unchallenged », adding that this is “dangerous and unfair”. .

She said: “We welcome this conversation and would like to emphasize that busy, overworked and underpaid nightlife staff should not be blamed individually for these failures. »