Tougher action to crackdown on spiking welcomed by PCC.

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed government plans to crackdown on illegal spiking (including drink spiking) by modernising laws to protect future victims.

The new proposals will see changes to the Criminal Justice Bill and amendments to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 to make it clear that spiking is illegal.

The Home Office said the changes form part of a wider package of measures aimed at protecting women and tackling spiking which are set to include longer jail sentences for offenders and investment in testing kits, however it is important to note that it is not only women who may be spiked and everyone should be alert that it may happen to them.

Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing via a drink or with a needle.

The County Durham and Darlington PCC, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ (APCC) Joint National Lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse, has campaigned rigorously for spiking to be made a specific offence, having previously raised the issue in 2021 while giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry on spiking.

She also played an instrumental role in securing the government’s recent ban on nitrous oxide after lobbying ministers to raise awareness of its potential as a gateway drug to harder substances and its prevalence in anti-social behaviour incidents across communities in the UK.

Commissioner Allen said: “I am delighted the government has listened to our warnings and is taking swift action. Spiking is an abhorrent crime and perpetrators should be in no doubt of the severity of punishment should they offend.

“Spiking is a complex and challenging offence to investigate. Drugs pass through the system quickly and there is often limited evidence to identify offenders. Additionally, the ability to gather timely evidence can hinder an investigation. As a result of these challenges, prosecutions involving spiking are extremely rare which is one of the primary barriers to reporting.

“We owe it to all victims of spiking to treat every incident with the gravity it deserves and ensure offenders know exactly what is at stake if they are caught committing this heinous crime – whatever their motive. This can only reasonably be achieved by making the law clearer.

“I am concerned that incidents of spiking remain underreported and would urge victims to come forward and report all incidents to the police. A new online tool will be rolled out to all police forces as part of these measures to make it easier for people to report spiking anonymously. This will enable officers to respond urgently to maximise the potential to bring perpetrators to justice.”