Staff at pubs across the borough have been trained to offer help to women in distress under the 'Ask for Angela' initiative.

A statement from the police said: "If you are feeling unsafe on a night-out then you can approach venue staff and ask them for 'Angela'.

"This code-phrase will indicate that you need support and a trained member of staff will come and help you.

"This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police."

Venues that support 'Ask for Angela' have been given Welfare And Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training.

The training, which is delivered in a partnership by the Met's licensing officers, the group Safer Sounds and the Mayor of London, gives staff the ability to help customers who may be in a situation that makes them vulnerable or unsafe.

Officers from the South Twickenham neighbourhood policing team have recently been patrolling pubs to understand staff knowledge of the scheme.

A spokesman said: "South TW were out and about checking in on Twickenham's License Premises as part of our ongoing campaign #AskForAngela.

"All the staff spoke to knew that Angela was a safety word for I need help."

Details on how businesses can participate can be found here.