Spiking Is Changing
Police warn perpetrators are using drug-laced vapes and everyday medicines as spiking methods evolve
Police are warning that perpetrators are using drug-laced vapes and everyday medicines to spike victims, as more than 2,700 spiking-related offences were reported to the Met in just one year.
Spiking doesn’t only mean something being slipped into a drink.
The Metropolitan Police is warning that perpetrators are increasingly using a wider range of substances, including antihistamines, travel sickness medication and vapes containing THC or synthetic drugs such as Spice.
And it isn’t only happening in bars and clubs.
Police say incidents are increasingly being reported at house parties, in homes and student accommodation - an important message as universities welcome students for Freshers’ Week.
The numbers matter
In the past year, more than 2,700 spiking-related offences were reported to the Met.
Just 131 resulted in a charge, caution or summons, although the Met says that figure is up 20% on the previous year.
That gap matters.
Spiking can be particularly difficult to investigate because some substances are rapidly metabolised, leaving what police describe as a “narrow forensic window” in which they can collect evidence.
The changing substances being used also matter. Online self-testing kits may not identify many prescription or over-the-counter medicines, according to the Met.
This is about perpetrators
Awareness is important. Knowing that a vape can be tampered with, recognising unexpected symptoms and knowing where to seek help can give people more options.
But responsibility for spiking must remain where it belongs: with the person choosing to spike someone.
Students already describe having to think about their safety constantly. One woman told The Independent: “I’m always aware of my drinks, anything I’m touching, my body.”
We shouldn’t respond to an evolving form of offending simply by giving victims an ever-growing checklist of things they need to watch.
We need prevention, perpetrator-focused action, accessible routes to reporting, rapid access to evidence collection and investigations capable of keeping pace with the methods offenders are using.
If you think you’ve been spiked
If something doesn’t feel right, seek help.
Where possible, reporting quickly may increase the chance of collecting forensic evidence and identifying CCTV and witnesses. But it is not “too late” to report simply because time has passed.
As Freshers’ Week gets underway, the message needs to be bigger than watch your drink.
Spiking is changing. Our response to it has to change too.
