Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Paragraph: 54
Strong support for increased venue security despite critical staff shortages
Conclusion
There is strong support for increased security measures in night-time venues, but critical shortages in door security staff.
Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation about increasing security measures or addressing door staff shortages, instead detailing the existing rapid urine testing service established by law enforcement and Eurofins.
Paragraph Reference:
54
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
As the Committee notes, law enforcement, in partnership with forensic provider Eurofins, established an accredited rapid urine testing service in response to the outbreak of needle spiking in Autumn 2021. This service will be in place throughout 2022, with the intention of developing a better service in 2023. This capability is both faster and less expensive than a full toxicology submission, enabling law enforcement to provide assurance and additional support to victims more quickly than they would usually be able to.4 Results from the rapid testing capability can be upgraded for evidential purposes. This capability, while initially open only to samples from reports of needle spiking, has been open to all spiking samples since January 2022. 4 SPI0048 – Written evidence submitted by Dean Ames, Forensic Drugs Operations Manager, Metropolitan Police Service