• Police chiefs, industry executives and transport bosses called to Downing Street to crack down on spiking and protect women and girls
• Spiking will become a new criminal offense
• Commitment to halve violence against women and girls is central to the government’s mission to make our streets safe

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See a Press release from 24. November 2024.

Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, Home Office, The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Assistant Chief Constable Samantha Millar, National Police Chiefs’ Council Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Programme Director, said:

Spiking can have a significant, traumatic impact on victims and feelings of safety in the night-time economy, particularly for women and girls.

Spiking is a complex offence to investigate as drugs can pass through the system quickly and there is often a lack of evidential opportunities, which is why quick reporting and early evidence gathering, including forensic testing, is key.

Police forces across the country have been working proactively to stop spiking from happening in the night-time economy and improve feelings of safety for women and girls. This includes regular, targeted patrols of busy town centres and visiting organisations, such as universities, to raise awareness of the symptoms of spiking. 

Forces also work closely with bars, pubs and clubs to tackle spiking, and during the first national spiking police week of action in March, forces collectively visited over 1900 licensed venues to ensure that staff understood how to support victims. 

I hope that the policing response to protect women and girls in the night-time economy shows how committed we are to making our streets safer. I would encourage anyone who is a victim of spiking to report it to the police, you will be listened to, and you will be taken seriously.

I would like to add that spiking can take many forms and is not only committed on women and girls. Sexual predictors can target any person they are interested in, this can include men.

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