The Home Office has launched a scheme so people at risk of or suffering from domestic abuse can discreetly signal at chemists they need help accessing support.
By asking for ‘Ani’ at Boots’ 2,300 stores and 255 independent pharmacies, they will be offered a private space to talk to a trained pharmacy worker to see if they need help from police or other services such as domestic abuse helplines. Other pharmacies are being asked to join up.
Chemists are one of the few retail outlets remaining open during the UK’s third national coronavirus lockdown.
The name chosen for the codeword is an acronym for “action needed immediately”.
