Drink spiking laws to be modernised, Home Office says
The government will amend the Criminal Justice Bill and update the Offences Against The Person Act 1861 to make clear that聽spiking聽is illegal.
Monday 18 December 2023 21:40, UK
Plans to modernise聽spiking聽laws will be set out in the coming days.
Ministers have come under pressure to make needle and drink spiking a specific offence, with campaigners and opposition parties calling for tougher action.
The Home Office has said it will amend the Criminal Justice Bill and update the Offences Against The Person Act 1861 to make clear that spiking is illegal.
Spiking is when someone puts drugs into another person's drink or directly into their body without their knowledge or consent.
Officials said there would also be separate statutory guidance that will provide a "clear" and "unequivocal" definition of spiking.
This is expected to take the form of an update to the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.
Poppy Read-Pitt, 21, believes her drink was spiked when she was at university.
She told Sky News it was important to train door staff to spot the difference between someone who is drunk and a person who may have been spiked.
Ms Read-Pitt said: "Apparently, they [security] carried me outside the club and said 'we need some help, they're in a bad way', and she [staff member] said 'leave them in the gutter, that would teach them a lesson'."
The boss of a company providing spiking test kits to some bars in Shrewsbury, Vince Dovey, said the "vast majority" had come back negative, "but people do feel safer" knowing they are available.
He said the trial scheme had only been going a few weeks and it was too soon to spot any trends on spiking cases.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "The public should be under no illusion - spiking is a serious offence and I urge anyone who suspects they have been a victim of this to contact the police now."
The Home Office said the changes would form part of a wider package of measures to protect women and tackle spiking.
Read more:
Almost 5,000 reports of needle and drink spiking made to UK police in a year
Spiking: New working group set up to tackle 'heinous' attacks on students
Mr Cleverly added: "This government has already gone further than ever before to protect the public from harm, and ensuring that women and girls can live their lives free from fear is one of my top priorities as home secretary."
Spiking is currently covered by several different areas of legislation but there is no single dedicated offence under which to prosecute perpetrators.
Nearly 5,000 cases of needle and drink spiking incidents were reported to police in England and Wales in the 12 months to September 2022, according to National Police Chiefs' Council figures.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said action was "long overdue".
"Labour has warned repeatedly that spiking is a dangerous and devastating crime which too often isn't taken seriously enough.
"Stronger measures are welcome but action on spiking is long overdue."