Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Deferred
Paragraph: 18
Absence of accurate data on spiking hinders effective policy and intervention development.
Conclusion
No-one knows how prevalent spiking is, whether by drink, drug or needle, and no-one knows what causes perpetrators to do it. Anecdotal evidence suggests the practice is widespread and dangerous, and that many people, particularly young, particularly women, are affected by it and are afraid they will be spiked on evenings out. An absence of accurate data makes it impossible, however, to judge accurately just how widespread, how dangerous spiking is. Policy initiatives to reduce both spiking and the fear of it cannot be well-founded or well-targeted without reliable evidence.
Government Response Summary
The government committed to bringing forward its deadline to 26 October for updating Parliament on whether it intends to introduce a specific criminal offence for spiking, but did not directly commit to gathering more accurate data on the prevalence and causes of spiking.
Paragraph Reference:
18
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government is already committed to updating Parliament on whether it intends to introduce a specific criminal offence for spiking within six months of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act receiving Royal Assent.1 We will bring this deadline forward from 28 October to 26 October in line with the Committee’s recommendation. Preventing and deterring spiking