A cause for concern? Exploring the nature of spiking crimes in the United Kingdom

Trigger warning: This article discusses topics of spiking crime, which may be triggering for some individuals.

A carefree night-out with your friends, perhaps celebrating or even just for fun, all of a sudden turns into a night of confusion and vulnerability. Before you know it, you're being dragged out by a bouncer for being 'too drunk' or you've woken up without any recollection of the night before. 

This is the reality for many individuals who fall victims to spiking crimes and a situation anyone can be subjected to. The act of spiking, where substances are administered without consent, is a growing concern that can happen to anyone, anywhere and can happen in a split second. 

This article aims to shed light into spiking crime and its prevalence and to provide awareness of spiking symptoms. It highlights the importance of my research and how this aims to further contribute to understandings of spiking crime. 

What is spiking? 

Under the current legal definition, spiking is the act of administering a substance to an individual without their knowledge or consent. This can be administered in two ways: needle or drink spiking. Both methods involve the administration of either alcohol or drugs, both of which have the capacity to affect an individual's behaviour and memory. Spiking can be as simple as giving someone a double when they asked for a single, however other forms are more complex. 

The most commonly known substance associated with spiking, also known as the 'date rape' drug, is Rohypnol. This is an intermediate acting drug, which has sedation and memory loss abilities. Usually in the form of a crushed pill which is put into the victim's drink, Rohpynol causes a number of effects which can last up to 12 hours, such as dizziness, loss of motor control and impaired judgement. 

Other less common 'date rape' drugs include ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and Ketamine which also can be used in drink spiking. Needle spiking is another method of administration that has become more prevalent since October 2021. Similar to drink spiking, this involves the administration of drugs such as Rohpynol, Ketamine and GHB through the injection of a needle often in the arm or back. Victims often notice a small bruise in the puncture spot the morning following the event. Both forms of spiking can go undetected and produce the same effects for the victim. 

A cause for concern?

Like most crimes, the true level of spiking is unknown as statistics are only able to offer limited insight. It is thought that only one-in-10 cases of spiking are reported to the police. Government research has shown the majority of spiking crime takes place in an environment associated with alcohol; often in bars, nightclubs or at festivals. 

Demographics also show that young women are more commonly at risk of being spiked, making up around 74 per cent of reported cases, although it is important to note anyone can be a victim. Further research suggests that places with high levels of spiking are often situated in cities around university sites. This may sound alarming, but it is important to consider that since August 2021, spiking cases have been seen to be on the decline. 

With these crimes being seen to gain more mainstream coverage throughout the media, there is now more discussion which has consequently led to the increasing involvement of government agencies. For example, as of February 2025, there is an alleged introduction of a new spiking law being implemented as part of the Crime and Policing Bill (Sky News). Although we are seeing increased levels of spiking reports compared to earlier years, this does not necessarily mean the level of spiking crime has increased. It is likely that due to an increased awareness of spiking, more people are now deciding to report. 

However, up until recently there has not been a distinctive legislation for spiking crime. Instead of having a distinctive piece of legislation, spiking offences have fallen under a variety of previous bills such as The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It is thought that the lack of a specific legislation has made reporting and prosecution hard for victims and law enforcement, as evidence is often limited and procedures are unclear. The alleged introduction of a new separate law against spiking crime is a step in the right direction and offers hope for a more effective chance at prosecuting suspects of this crime. 

My research

Statistics show that the vast majority of victims of spiking crime do not report the crime to the police. There is little to no research into victims' experiences of being spiked, specifically when looking at how the police respond to these incidents. This prompted my BSc criminology undergraduate dissertation, which is investigating victims' experiences and perceptions of police responses concerning spiking cases. The aim of this is to understand why the vast majority of spiking victims fail to report their incident and to understand police response to these cases.

Through an online questionnaire which was posted to various Facebook groups and across my social media, participants were asked a variety of questions including their experience of being spiked, their perceptions of the police and their interactions with the police following the crime (if this applied to them). 

Overall, a total of 35 individuals participated, with 34 female participants and one male. Looking at similar research into other drug facilitated crimes which showed women are often fearful or lack trust in the police, I hypothesised most respondents would not have reported to the police. This was partially reflected in the results, with only 1/3 of participants reporting it to the police. 

Despite this, many participants highlighted that their interactions with the police were negative or did not fulfil their expectations, which provides valuable insight for my research. Research also shows that the UK overall has lost faith in the police, especially following several high-profile police cases in the media, such as the murder of Sarah Everard. As a result, my second hypothesis that individuals chose not to report due to lack of faith in the police was further supported, with many participants feeling the police wouldn't have been able to help them in this situation. 

Whether it is a lack of trust in the police, lack of knowledge on spiking symptoms or lack of awareness on how to report, it is clear a change would be beneficial for victims. Many participants commented that they were unaware of how to report; however, over half of those who didn't report now wish they had. My goal is to raise more awareness around spiking crime and develop further understanding into how victims are treated through the reporting process. 

What can I do?

There is a wide range of information available online regarding how to report spiking and what to look out for, available via the government website or SpikeAware. If you or someone you know has been spiked, knowing and identifying initial symptoms is one of the most important steps. Although as alcohol consumption is usually involved, distinguishing the difference may become more complicated, you know in yourself how your body normally reacts and your usual limits. Common symptoms of spiking often include memory loss, confusion, nausea and feeling drunker than expected. The first 12 hours after being spiked are considered the most important if you have been spiked by a drug, as this is when it is most prevalent in your system and therefore can be tested for. The police take urine samples up to four days after an incident has happened, which is important to know if you plan to report.

Establishments in the night-life space are starting to take these cases more seriously, some providing drink covers and increasing security checks. In addition, a £250,000 government-funded scheme has also been introduced to teach staff how to spot warning signs of spiking, which aimed to have trained 10,000 staff in pubs, bars and clubs by April 2025. We are starting to see some changes under the law and increased involved from authorities in tackling these crimes, which is a promising start and provides hope for spiking victims in the future. 

Further Information

For anyone who may have been impacted by this article, please find attached some useful websites which provide support:

Government website

Metropolitan Police

Drinkaware

Author biography