By Rise in spiking reports across Humberside in October
In the past month, Humberside Police have seen an increase in reports of spiking across the region.
According to Humberside Police, October alone accounted for 45% of spiking reports in 2021, following significant media coverage and proactive policing efforts.
The majority of spiking victims are women between the ages of 17 and 40, but spiking has been reported from a variety of ranges, with almost a third of victims being male.
Humberside Police said: “We take all cases of spiking – whether by injection or by slipping something into someone’s drink – incredibly seriously and these crimes can carry lengthy prison sentences. However, it can often be difficult to get justice for those that have been affected.”
“These despicable crimes are often committed to make a person seriously vulnerable to a variety of motives, including sexual assault or theft. Our officers have been out across the region to provide support and reassurance to members of the public, as well as education to licensees and door staff on how to support their customers.”
“This rise in cases could be explained by improved education surrounding spiking, leading to an increase in people reporting these incidents. We urge anyone that thinks they may have been spiked to come forward as soon as possible and let us know when and where the incident happened. This can be done on 999 if in the moment or 101 after the fact.”
Due to drugs quickly working their way out of victims systems, the number of arrests and charges is significantly lower as it becomes harder to determine when and where the spiking took place.
Therefore, getting tested as soon as possible is incredibly important to determine what drugs have been used and how to properly treat the victim.
As part of Operation Contact, uniformed and plain-clothes officers will continue o to patrol busy nightlife hotspots.
Their licensing team have also been working alongside bars and clubs to help them spot the signs of spiking.
A new trial of drink-spiking kits has been launched in Hull venues so that, if you think you have been spiked, you can test your drink immediately and seek appropriate help.
The ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme is also in place across the UK, whereby if you are concerned about someone’s behaviour, you can approach staff and “ask for Angela”
