Forces patrol student bars to tackle spiking during Freshers’ Week

They are working with universities, licensed venues and organisations in the night-time economy to help safeguard people on a night out, deploying a range of tactics to prevent and identify offending.

For example, forces, including Derbyshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, will deploy plain clothed officers to patrol the night-time economy, looking for predatory behaviour. A uniformed police response is also present in the area, ready to arrest suspects or respond to issues.

Nottinghamshire Police has set up a dedicated police presence at Nottingham University throughout the Freshers’ period to help safeguard students.

Bedfordshire Police is delivering training to bar staff and taxi drivers to raise awareness of the symptoms of spiking and how to intervene as a bystander to violence against women and girls.

West Yorkshire Police has created a spiking educational package for school pupils, digital media assets to increase confidence among victim survivors to report and to raise awareness within the NHS of the importance of early police referral.

Lincolnshire Police is working with partners, such as street pastors and the University of Lincoln, to promote a safe night-time economy. This will include extra patrols working with licensed premises to ensure strict searching of those entering large venues, and the university is providing support and testing for students who believe they may have been spiked.

Police activity has been further boosted this week with funding from the Home Office as part of a dedicated ‘week of action’ to target spiking offences. The first operation took place in March this year, when officers across England and Wales visited more than 2,000 licensed venues to ensure that staff were aware of the symptoms of spiking and how to respond to an incident, with the appropriate safety measures in place to protect customers.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) says raising awareness of spiking is particularly key to helping police investigate offences, as common ‘myths’ prevent people from identifying and reporting offences.

“Drugs often pass through the system quickly, so it’s important that spiking is reported to the police as soon as possible to give the best chance of providing support to the victim, as well as investigating and collecting vital evidence,” it said.

“To respond effectively to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in public spaces, including offences such as spiking, policing needs to work in partnership. Forces are invigorating a joined-up approach to help make the night-time economy safe, working with local councils and businesses to pursue perpetrators and safeguard vulnerable people.”

Assistant Chief Constable Samantha Millar, NPCC VAWG strategic programme director, said: “It’s really important that women and girls both feel safe and are safe when they are on a night out, and we know the fear around spiking can have a significant impact on how they feel.

“It’s also important that we equip young people with the right information around spiking to help prevent and deter offences and encourage early reporting. We know that spiking can often be committed by someone known to the victim and can occur when extra alcohol is added to someone’s drink without their knowledge.

“People may do it as a joke, or in rarer cases, there may be a more sinister motive for spiking. In all cases, we really want to encourage people to look out for each other, be aware of the signs and symptoms of spiking, and know how to report it to police.”

Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG Jess Phillips said ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students during Freshers’ Week was “a top priority”.

“That’s why the Government has invested in police forces across the country to intensify their operations to tackle spiking, employing new strategies to pursue offenders and protect victims,” she said.

“It’s vital that victims feel empowered and supported to come forward as we confront this often-underreported crime. We are taking strong and decisive action to strengthen the law and enhance the police response to ensure victims are confident reporting to the police and that offenders are held accountable.

“This government has a mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and we are resolute in our commitment to keep women and girls safe.”

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, joint leads on addictions and substance abuse, David Sidwick and Joy Allen, and joint leads on victims, Sophie Linden and Lisa Townsend, said: “Spiking is an abominable act that can have a traumatic impact on victims – mostly women and girls. Victims of spiking are often left in the terrifying situation of being unable to recall what has happened or what might have been done to them.

“At a time when many young people will be out enjoying themselves during their university Freshers’ Week, we fully support this week of action by police.

“It is those who carry out these offences who are responsible for the harm that results, but we would encourage students to be vigilant and know how to stay safe, and to recognise the signs of a possible spiking incident.

“Spiking can involve drugs such as cocaine or ketamine or, often, a victim’s drink being doctored with multiple measures of alcohol. It is almost certainly under-reported by victims.

“Police and crime commissioners are committed to working with their local police force along with national and local partners to raise public awareness and to improve the police response to what are challenging and complex offences to investigate. To send the clearest possible message that spiking is entirely unacceptable, and encourage victims to come forward, we believe it should be made a specific criminal offence.

“It is vital that anyone who believes they or a friend have been spiked reports it to police as soon as possible to give them the best possible chance of catching the perpetrator.”

Professor Lisa Roberts, student experience, education and skills policy lead for Universities UK and vice-chancellor and chief executive at the University of Exeter, said: “It’s vital that all students feel safe at university and can enjoy their student experience without fear of being harmed.

“Across the country universities are working with the police and nightlife sector to help students feel safe when they go out at night.

“Spiking attacks can, and do, happen in society and we need to work together to reduce the risk and raise awareness of the support that is available, so those who have been spiked can come forward for support in confidence. Universities UK’s guidance supports universities to respond spiking through providing examples of good practice.”