Almost 200 drink spiking incidents reported to police in two months, figures show
Nearly 200 drink spiking incidents have been reported to police forces across the UK over the past two months, figures reveal. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said there have been 198 confirmed reports of drink spiking in September and October, in addition to 24 reports of some form of injection. On Friday afternoon, the NPCC said there were around 140 confirmed reports of drink spiking, but this figure was revised after more data was received.
It added that the majority of cases featured young women, with alleged offences having taken place at licensed premises and private parties. The 198 figure is based on data received from 40 police forces, and the NPCC said it is still to receive data from five forces which it expects over the weekend. The Metropolitan Police received 58 of the 198 drink spiking reports. “Clearly these reports are very concerning," the NPCC lead for drugs, Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin, said. “We are working at pace with forces, law enforcement agencies such as the NCA and other partners including the Home Office and universities to understand the scale of offending, establish any links between the allegations and ultimately bring any identified offenders to justice.”
ITV News Midlands Correspondent Ben Chapman spoke to Nottingham university student Sarah Buckle, who told of her "shock" and "disgust" at the suspected injection
The comments come as two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to administer poison in connection with a spate of reported drink-spiking incidents involving needles in Nottingham. Nottinghamshire Police said the men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested after receiving information from a member of the public on Wednesday, following a general appeal for help from a senior officer. The arrests are not being linked to any specific allegation of spiking by a needle, or contamination of a drink. Both men have since been released under investigation, the force said in an update.