Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Deferred
Paragraph: 66
Patchwork of anti-spiking initiatives lacks national strategy and consistency
Conclusion
We are pleased to learn there are many initiatives across the country to tackle spiking but are concerned that without a national strategy to ensure a consistent, wholesale approach, the current patchwork of initiatives may make those in parts of the country that have not yet taken action more vulnerable to spiking.
Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to a national strategy for a consistent approach to anti-spiking initiatives, but instead outlined preliminary discussions with police and legal bodies regarding factors inhibiting prosecutions, with outcomes to be included in a statutory report by April 2023.
Paragraph Reference:
66
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government recognises that there a number of factors which inhibit our ability to successfully target and prosecute individuals who commit spiking offences, not least of all the under-reporting discussed in the response to recommendation 2. We have begun preliminary discussions with a number of police forces on what they see as the factors which inhibit prosecutions and intend to have similar conversations with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney General’s office. The outcomes of these discussions and what action we can take to mitigate these factors will be included in the statutory report on spiking, due to be published no later than 28 April 2023. 5 Drink Spiking Survey – Alcohol Education Trust 6 Spiking amongst students – Research | SOS-UK