Spiking Intensification Week

Content contributed by Barnet Safer Transport Team.

What is spiking?

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into someone’s drink without their knowledge or permission. It can also involve injecting somebody with drugs without their consent, although this type of spiking is rare.

Spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere and can be carried out by strangers or people you know. It can also take place anywhere – in someone’s house or on a night out.

Spiking is normally perpetrated with the intent to incapacitate somebody in order to rob or sexually assault them. Perpetrators who spike their victims with the intent to commit sexual assault face up to 10 years in prison and being placed on the sex offender’s register.

Some people may carry out spiking on their friends, with no intent to commit a further offence, believing it to humorous. This is still a serious criminal offence with serious consequences.

It is believed that spiking is under-reported to the police because people assume that they will not be believed or that there will be no evidence.

However, the Police is committed to believing victims of spiking and securing all possible evidence, including increased testing for the presence of drink spiking substances.

The signs of being spiked

It can be hard to tell if your drink has been spiked, but if you notice any changes to the taste or appearance of your drink, stop drinking it.

Tell a trusted friend what’s happened and, if you’re out at a venue, notify a member of staff immediately.

It’s not always easy to tell if you’ve been spiked, as symptoms will vary depending on what you’ve been spiked with. Some symptoms to look out for though are:

• Confusion

• Nausea or vomiting

• Hallucinations or paranoia

• Disorientation

• Difficulty communicating

• Unconsciousness

If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you thought you should be, seek help immediately.

What to do if you think you’ve been spiked

If you think you or a friend has been spiked, it’s important to tell someone as soon as you can:

• Alert a member of staff or security if you’re at a venue

• Stay with your friend and keep talking to them

• Don’t let them go home on their own or leave with someone you don’t know

• Report to the police online, on 101 or, in an emergency, call 999

• If you’re worried about symptoms, call the NHS on 111 for advice or 999 if you need an ambulance

Letting people know what has happened gives the best chance of looking after you and gathering any evidence where a crime may have taken place.

We know it can be scary to report being spiked, but the police are here to help you. We take spiking extremely seriously and work proactively to pursue perpetrators.

Don’t let the fact that you might have knowingly taken illegal drugs stop you from reporting either. It is not an offence to have illegal drugs in your system and police officers will want to make sure you are okay.

How to reduce the risk of being spiked

Everyone should feel safe to enjoy themselves without worrying about being spiked. However, there are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of spiking, whilst keeping yourself and others safe.

• Stick together with your friends and look out each other

• Never leave your drink unattended, whether it’s an alcoholic drink or not

• Be cautious if you are bought or given a drink – only accept drinks from people you know and trust

• Be wary if people are reaching over your drinks

• Alert staff immediately if you see anyone acting suspiciously around your or someone else’s drink

• If you or a friend feel unwell, seek help from staff or call an ambulance immediately.

Visit the Drink Aware website for more information about spiking and advice for enjoying a safe night out.

Remember, there is no time limit on reporting spiking; whether it just happened or it happened a while ago, you can inform the police.

Signs to look out for

What should you do? 

Street safe and getting support