Reading’s town centre has undergone a follow-up safety operation as part of the “Ask for Angela” scheme, police have said.
The initiative, run by Thames Valley Police in partnership with Reading Borough Council, aims to provide support to anyone feeling unsafe in licensed venues, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Officers tested venues using both a heterosexual couple and a male-presenting homosexual couple, in response to public questions about whether the scheme is female-specific. Police said the vast majority of venues “passed with flying colours,” and where improvements were needed, staff received guidance and training on the scheme.
A police spokesperson said: “Safety is gender-neutral. Anyone can be at risk, and support should be available to all. We thank venues that continue to take their responsibilities seriously and help make our town centre safer.”
In a separate operation, the town centre team also seized a number of illegal e-bikes from public streets, further supporting community safety.
