By Pubs and bars with high levels of spiking could be closed down if they don’t improve
A new report has found that more action needs to be taken against spiking in bars and clubs to stop the crime from being invisible.
The report by the Home Affairs Committee said it is difficult to know the scale of the issue as many incidents go unreported, with a lack of coordinated support for victims.
The government is now considering creating a new criminal offence for spiking which would make victims more likely to come forward,
MPs have said bars and clubs with a bad track record on spiking wider issues relating to violence against women should be required to improve to have their license renewed.
The committee said places where spiking is more likely to occur, such as pubs, clubs and festivals, must be safe for all.
They added that local authorities and licensing authorities need to ensure that venues have adequate security and staff trained to identify spiking.
MPs also said there is insufficient data on prevalence, location, method, perpetrators and their motivations, causing a barrier to policing.
According to a survey run by the committee, 84% of victims said they did not receive support after the first time they were spiked, and 72% said they did not report the incident.
The questionnaire was completed by 1,895 victims and 1,413 witnesses between December 2021 and January 2022.
Most victims were female, with 139 victims identifying as male and 21 people choosing “other”, and most respondents were younger than 25.
The most common venue where spiking was reported to have taken place was nightclubs followed by pubs and private parties.
Safeguarding Minister Rachel Maclean said spiking was “a cowardly act which can ruin lives”.
“The Home Secretary has confirmed the Home Office is looking at how best to prepare a specific criminal offence and has asked the National Police Chiefs’ Council to urgently review the extent and scale of the issue”, she added.
“We have already reclassified GHB and introduced harsher sentences for anyone found with this spiking drug on them without cause. And are not afraid to legislate if it will help the police and courts better tackle the issue.”
