Supporting International Drink Spiking Awareness Day
15 July 2022
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is supporting International Drink Spiking Awareness Day today (July 15).
Drink spiking reports increased nationally last year and this became a real concern for communities, increasing the level of fear amongst those attending bars, clubs and house parties.
Amongst that, there were also reports of people being spiked with a needle. Raising the issue in her position as joint national lead for Victims for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones told the Home Affairs Committee last October that the scale of the issue is more significant than what the reporting says.
Between April and June 2022, Hampshire Constabulary has recorded 38 incidents of drink spiking, and five incidents of needle spiking.
Today, the statistics locally are much lower than the peak last year in October and November, but ‘Stamp Out Spiking’ say these crimes are under-reported, often because victims are unaware they have been spiked until the next day, or they feel they can’t make a report because they won’t be believed.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Terry Norton, said: “These crimes significantly affect the feelings of safety among women and girls. Men are victims too, however reports from women and girls make up the majority of incidents, and mostly affect an age group between 18-22-years-old.
“The Commissioner and I are absolutely resolute in our position on making the streets safer for young women, to ensure they feel safe going out, free from fear of violence, in public, private and hospitality venues.
“We know that Hampshire Constabulary’s Licensing Team have been working with bar management throughout the counties and invested widely in awareness, prevention and training on safeguarding victims, as well as targeting potential perpetrators, and continue to do so in order to reduce these crimes.
“We are fully supporting Stamp Out Spiking and the international day to increase awareness of this issue.”