23rd September 2023
As Freshers head off to University, awareness of drink spiking and personal safety has never been more important as needle spiking and drink spiking cases continue to rise.
The Alcohol Education Trust provides drink tests, awareness cards on how to report and support to students across the UK
During 2021, 120 cases of needle and drink spiking incidents were reported in Dorset and this increased to 149 cases in 2022. Although we hope the raising of awareness is increasing the likelihood of victims to report, we know this is still just the tip of the iceberg as many victims do not report that they’ve been spiked, feeling it is too late, they won’t be taken seriously, they can’t remember what happened or they are too embarrassed. The House of Commons inquiry in 2022 from 3,500 victims and witnesses found 86% didn’t receive any support from police, medical services or venues.
Rosie, a second-year student at the University of Manchester was spiked in October of 2022 in a club when visiting her sister in Durham: ‘After only two drinks I lost all control of my limbs and ability to talk. I was trapped within my own body and left powerless. My mental health was dramatically impacted after I was spiked and I didn’t report the incident to the police due to many other students I know not being believed or being turned away. Spiking is a terrifying and sadly prevalent crime which has a long-lasting impact on the victim, family and friends. I realise now that accessing help after spiking incidences is so important, whether that be reporting to the Police via 101, talking to Victim Support, simply talking to a friend or reporting the incident on an app like TASA …nobody should go through this traumatic experience alone.’
As the House of Commons Inquiry found that 68% of victims were under the age of 24 and 81% were students and as we usually see a rise in spiking cases at the start of the University Year, The Alcohol Education Trust are providing awareness posters, how to report and support cards, drink testing kits and keyrings to Freshers in over 60 FE settings, 6th forms and Universities across the UK.
Emily Naris, Advice Centre Manager at Royal Holloway Students Union said about the campaign, ‘I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the resources that the Alcohol Education Trust sent. The keyrings and drug spiking tests were incredibly popular with the students! …the students love them!’
The #end spiking campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of reporting drink spiking, recognising the signs, knowing where to go for help and support and what to ask for, sign posting to Preventing drink spiking & what to do if a drink is spiked (life-stuff.org) using the hashtags #endspiking and # spikersRpricks supported by a tiktok and Instagram campaign via @life_stuff.0rg.
Helena Conibear CEO of The Alcohol Education Trust comments, ‘Research, including our own, show that most victims of drink spiking do not report the incident and feel let down by medical services, so the focus of our campaign is the importance of calling out spikers and reporting incidents. Between 70% and 90% of those spiked didn’t report it at the time, thinking they wouldn’t be believed or taken seriously. Much better measures are now in place, thanks to the work of the police, good venues and Unis including rapid urine testing, dedicated welfare and active bystander staff, safe spaces at venues and drink testing kits. These measures will help ensure the prevalence of 1 in 10 students being spiked reduces and that more perpetrators are prosecuted’. (sources: The Tab, SOS, YouGov and AET surveys).
Since October 2021 when the extent of drink spiking and spiking by injection hit the headlines, the police, many night time venues, student welfare and local authorities have done much to try and ensure it’s easier to report spiking and for people to know how to report spikers and support victims. For example, Merseyside police and the Met have added spiking as a separate offence on their home page to report Report spiking | Merseyside Police
Support for victims and witnesses of spiking | Metropolitan Police Other forces have invested in dedicated drink spiking leads, training, urine and drink testing kits and bottle stoppers, better advice and support services, for example.
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Joint Addictions and Substance Misuse Leads David Sidwick and Joy Allen, said, ‘Spiking is a heinous crime which puts lives at risk. This fresher’s term we are urging university students to be vigilant and look out for their friends whilst enjoying the university nightlife. It is vital all incidents of spiking are reported to the police so that we can get a grip on this epidemic and ensure the safety of young people. Police and Crime Commissioners continue to work with their local and national partners and stakeholders including the Alcohol Education Trust to tackle spiking, identify offenders, provide support to victims and raise awareness of the dangers.’
Conibear states, ‘Some night time venues have really stepped up to the mark, ensuring that staff are trained to recognise the signs, using schemes such as ‘Ask for Angela’ meaning someone needs help. But time after time victims report to us that bouncers or staff left them outside, told concerned friends that the victim is drunk or denied that spiking had taken place on their premises. Our other concern is how A and E deals with spiking cases as there is no duty to test and victims are often just sent home and told to report to the police or victim support’.