Spiking will be a crime under a new law. The Crime and Policing Bill could bring a 10-year prison sentence.
The government announced training for workers. This program helps them prevent spiking. The training assists them in spotting such attacks.
Spiking involves secretly giving someone alcohol or drugs without their knowledge or consent. It can involve putting something in their drink and can also involve using a needle.
In England and Wales, police received many reports. Up to April 2023, they received 6,732 reports, of those, 957 involved needle spiking. London’s police saw a rise in reports, with 1,383 allegations, a 13% increase in 2023.
A government scheme aims to train staff. Last week, a £250,000 program started, it teaches staff to spot spiking signs, prevent incidents, and gather evidence. The program aims to train 10,000 staff by April which will be free for pubs, clubs, and bars.
Spike Aware UK’s founder spoke out and said the charity welcomes government action. He stated spiking can happen anywhere, and these initiatives make progress. He urged people witnessing it to speak up.