Do you know the universal sign for "I need help?"

I do not understand what a passerby could realistically do. In the Youtube video about this that I watched a large man who saw the gesture leaped on top of the man accompanying the child who opened her hand - so he assaulted a stranger without knowing anything about the situation. Calling the police isn't likely to work if only an open hand has been seen.

So my question is exactly what would a Gransnetter do if shown this gesture by someone in the street?

Its a good idea in theory but either the person you ask may not know, or then be annoyed at some stranger tapping them, in that case that then alerts the person with them that they asked for this help- or that person then alerted might start trouble & turn on the helper and/or the person needing help.So they clearly dont think all this through do they?

Wouldnt the person needing help be better tapping a policeman/or woman or some such if there was one around?Rather than an old gran or grandad who probably is not best equipped to help with that sort of situation and then may not end well for anyone?

Knowing what the gesture means does not neccessarily mean you are in a position to help does it quercus?

And as been said, with these 'new' ways of asking for help being advertised then the people doing the abusing etc gets to know what they mean also- so its harder for the person needing help to be able to ask secretly isnt it?

Well done for breaking up a fight, Magenta. There are very few policemen or women around, these days. I suppose we'd have to be creative, e.g. pretend to recognise the girl, long lost neighbour perhaps... I've known the sign for ages, but I don't actually know what I'd do...

Magenta8

AGAA4

Kalu

Oh dear! Brain fog strikes again, I have posted on the wrong thread🤯

Re the subject, yes, I am aware of it as is my family, via social media.

Don't worry I enjoyed reading your post 😊

So did I. It lightened up a rather gloomy thread.

Thank you. It wasn’t too distracting then. 👍

I knew this, thought it was fairly well known

Nannan2

And as been said, with these 'new' ways of asking for help being advertised then the people doing the abusing etc gets to know what they mean also- so its harder for the person needing help to be able to ask secretly isnt it?

Well no, because it’s a gesture that can be done behind your back, while the person who is holding you is not looking etc., that’s the whole point of it. I really don’t understand why people feel negatively about something which is meant to help others in distress.

Yes, I know the sign and made sure my son is aware of it too. I think there is also a sentence you can say in a hospitality setting that will alert staff that you are in danger and need help. I can't remember what it is though.

The sign in question is made by 1 hand behind your back. As you pass someone you nudge them to get their attention and hope that they turn round and see the sign.

If you need help in a bar, a discreet phrase like "Can I ask for Angela?" will let staff know you are in an uncomfortable situation, as seen on the Metropolitan Police website and other sources. You can also use the term "angel shot," and staff will help discreetly by getting you a taxi, contacting friends, or ensuring your safety without drawing attention to you. If you don't know if the venue participates in these initiatives, it is still best to approach the staff and tell them you need help directly.

I didn't know it but I do now so thanks Magenta8.
It would be a good thing to recognize that someone in trouble.
I knew about asking for Angela.

This was posted in the Daily Express recently

Yes, I have seen this one. It does has to be discrete, or the abuser is alerted.

What can a GN do? Take a discrete photo, to send to Police?

Hand signal: show palm, tuck thumb in, close fingers over it. Originated from Canadian Women's Foundation for domestic abuse situations. Worth knowing but don't assume everyone does

Magenta, kudos to you.

If I saw someone do this I would feel panicky because I genuinely wouldn’t know how best to help. 🤷‍♀️

Couldn’t call the Police they’d be walking away ….
Couldn’t talk to them they wouldn’t want attention drawn to their plight …

Genuinely question.
What are we advised to actually DO?

Never heard of it, but I can morse both SOS and MAYDAY.

I knew about asking for Angela but not the hand gesture.
If someone did this to me, particularly the open hand/palm bit I would wonder if they were asking for money, rather than help.
(So me passing them a couple of quid wouldn’t be much use.)
Perhaps a campaign along the same lines as the Ask Angela one might be helpful.

Here is the AI advice.
How to Respond
The appropriate response depends on the situation (e.g., in person, on a video call) and whether you know the person.
Immediate Danger: If you believe the person or others are in immediate danger, call emergency services right away.
Not Immediate Danger: If the danger doesn't seem immediate, your goal is to check in safely without escalating the situation for the distressed person.
In Person (Public or Private)
Approach Safely: Try to approach them when they are alone, or subtly indicate that you have seen their signal.
Offer Discreet Help: Ask simple, non-alarming questions. For example:
"Are you okay?"
"Do you need to use my phone?"
"Would you like me to call someone for you?"
Do Not Confront the Abuser: Avoid confronting the person accompanying the victim, as this could put everyone in more danger.
In Public Spaces: Inform security, a police officer, or a bar staff member (some bars use the "Ask for Angela" system).

I've never heard of this and I don't think I could remember all those AI instructions.

Yes, lots of examples with video on X. I knew about it from just watching these.