Combatting drink spiking in the UK

Data shows that drink spiking is on the rise in the UK, and the government has announced measures to tackle the problem. But with no standardised national training, are the plans toothless?

*This feature was originally published in the February 2024 issue of The Spirits Business magazine.

In December the UK government announced it was setting out to tackle the issue of drink spiking, with plans to introduce new measures.

Describing it as “a perverse crime, which can have a lasting impact on victims”, home secretary James Cleverly outlined how “our comprehensive new measures are designed to help police and staff in bars, restaurants, pubs and other premises to protect victims and bring more offenders to justice”. Tough talk for sure.

They include training of “hundreds more” door staff; research into spiking kits; “intensive operations” by the National Police Chiefs Council to tackle spiking during key weeks such as Freshers Week across the 43 police forces in England and Wales; an online tool to make it easier to anonymously report spiking to the police; a guidance kit for the public; a consultation with, and increased support for higher education regulator Office for Students to help it tackle the issue; and updated statutory guidance to include spiking (s182 Licensing Act 2003, to be specific).

That last part is important. According to the announcement of the new measures: “The step up to tackle spiking comes as the government prepares to clarify under the Criminal Justice Bill, that without any doubt, spiking is illegal. It will be backed with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear, unequivocal definition of what spiking is.”

Spiking on the rise

Though data varies, the consensus is drink spiking is significantly on the rise.

A recent Home Office report Understanding and tackling spiking, states that it believes the problem peaked in 2021. Between May 2022 and April 2023, the police received 6,732 reports of spiking, including 957 needle-spiking reports, though it acknowledges that both crimes are likely to have been under-reported.

In November, London’s Metropolitan Police said incidents had quadrupled over the past five years. In 2018 there were 497 offences related to drink spiking in London. But by 2022, that number had risen to 2,066.

Throughout the UK, in the same period, reported incidents have increased fivefold. According to figures gained by broadcaster Channel 4 from Freedom of Information requests from 39 forces, there were 20,000 reports of spiking made. Yet, perhaps more dramatic are the prosecution figures, or lack of them. The rate of investigation and prosecution dropped from one in 25 in 2018 to one in 400 in 2022. There were just 54 cases where a suspect was arrested and referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, Channel 4 found.

‘Disappointing’ measures

So, are the new measures likely to have an effect? Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NITA), says the measures announced are “disappointing” and unlikely to change much. With different police forces logging the incident under anything from assault to sexual assault, there’s a lack of reliable data, and no nationally standardised training.

“I don’t think it’s gone far enough,” says Kill. “The reality is, without data we have a lack of understanding of where spiking happens, the characteristics of people who carry it out, etc. So, if we haven’t got robust data to tackle this, then we’re almost doing it on a wing and a prayer. I do think wholeheartedly that there needs to be a crime category for spiking specifically so we can really start to understand and acknowledge exactly where this is going on. Otherwise, we’re just going to keep going around in circles and hope it sort of disappears from the public domain.

“The other thing that is really important, and slightly frustrating, is that every single region across the country has spiking training,” he adds. “Every single local authority and business-improvement district has got their own version, or ways of approaching it. We just need to have national training that’s standardised. That’s something the Home Office should have got a handle on straight away. It’s a step forward. But it’s very woolly. The worry is it’s somewhat tokenist. Will it solve the problem? I don’t think so.”

So what are other countries, governments, or local authorities trying? In December, Western Australia Police announced it was to create free drink-spiking test kits for consumers to use if they’re concerned. They’re available to pick up from police stations. Speaking to the country’s 9 News, detective sergeant Kylie Johnson said: “We worked really closely with our forensics division to make sure these kits were fit for purpose. We have worked with our legal side to make sure the evidentiary requirements are being met for what we do obtain.”

In California, a new law will require bars to have drink-spiking drug test kits available. To be introduced this summer, the legislation (AB 1013) was spearheaded by assembly member Josh Lowenthal, who is also a bar owner. “It feels good to get a bill across the finish line and to have the governor sign it, but I’m only going to feel happy when we know we’re making an impact on cutting down on sexual assault. That’s it. That’s the only measuring stick here,” he says.

In the UK, will licensees incur extra costs for kits or training to comply with the proposed legislation? It is, as yet, unclear. However, Mark Morgan, business manager for the new Licensing Security & Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI), which was developed at the request of the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, to deter and reduce crime, has some advice in the meantime.

Lack of testing kits

He says there is a lack of kits that can test for all drugs. It is hoped Home Office-funded research will develop one. He says licensees can obtain posters, in both print and digital formats to display in venues to raise awareness, directly from licensingsavi.com. These posters are aimed at both victims and offenders. “That engagement with customers is massive in both the reassurance and potentially preventing an offence,” says Morgan.

“It’s a bit unclear as to the exact requirements of people running licensed premises,” he adds. “However, the clear theme throughout it is to make sure you and your staff know what the signs of spiking are, how to prevent it, and how to react if, worst case, a spiking incident occurs in your venue. If an incident does happen, it’s key that staff know what to do in terms of responding, reporting, and crime scene preservation. I think historically there’s a perception from venues that if they’ve got incidents, spiking or otherwise, that the police will look at them in terms of enforcement. We’re really keen now from a policing perspective to work in partnership with venues, as long as they’re doing everything that they reasonably can to make that venue as safe as it can be. The tide has changed.”