Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Paragraph: 103
Disappointment over exceptionally low number of successful spiking prosecutions
Conclusion
Successful prosecution has a deterrent value for both actual and would-be spikers and sends a clear message that spiking is a crime. We are therefore disappointed by the very low number of successful prosecutions for spiking offences.
Paragraph Reference:
103
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.