September is freshers month; a new cohort of students arrives at universities and colleges. Reports of drink spiking tend to increase, as offenders take advantage of busy licensed premises and unsuspecting students. Venues are being reminded to ensure bar staff are aware of their responsibility
towards vulnerable customers and their role in enhancing safety and prevention. And meanwhile customers are reminded to stay alert, look after each other and not to leave drinks unattended.
As an example of what campuses offer to make university as safe an experience as possible, the University of Kent at Canterbury is among those that use the Safezone app from the software firm CriticalArc. The security department will offer advice; and runs a ‘night-time walking taxi service’, and the uni besides has night buses. The Kent website also goes into detail about drink spiking – what it is, and what to do about suspicions of it.
Mark Morgan is a former senior policeman, who runs the Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI for short) that’s part of the police not for profit company Police CPI. He said: โWeโve seen a lot of adverse media in relation to drink spiking within licensed premises over the past year, which is of real concern at a time when there is such a focus upon the safety of women and girls in particular.
โThere are simple steps which can be taken to avoid this, from venues displaying prominent signage reminding customers not to leave their drinks unattended and not to accept drinks from strangers; training all staff in the danger of drinks being spiked – remember alcohol is the most common form of spiking, so confirm that the person actually drinking wants double measures etc when ordered, encourage staff to monitor unattended drinks; making all staff aware of the types of vulnerability, what they can do to reduce vulnerability and the necessity to provide immediate assistance to any customer feeling dizzy, disorientated or showing signs of intoxication. If anyone is acting suspiciously around unattended drinks, ask them to leave or call the police immediately if drink spiking is suspected. Venues can also consider providing stopper devices, such as lids to put on drinking vessels, which can reduce the risk of a drink being spiked.
โFor customers, if your drink has been spiked, it’s unlikely that youโll see, smell or taste any difference, albeit some drugs may taste slightly salty or smell unusual. If you start to feel strange or feel that your drink has had more of an effect on you than it should have, get help immediately. Try to avoid drinking too much alcohol, particularly when in unfamiliar surroundings as you could make risky decisions and become less aware of potential danger. Never leave your drink unattended and keep an eye on your friends’ drinks. Be careful about accepting a drink from someone you don’t know. Think about drinking bottled drinks and avoiding shared drinks such as punch bowls or cocktail jugs. Please don’t provide personal details, especially your address, to someone you’ve just met. You should plan your nights out and travel arrangements, using only recognised travel routes and providers.
โIf you think your drink has been tampered with, don’t drink it โ tell a trusted friend, relative, medic, police or someone you completely trust immediately. If alone, call someone you trust and get to a safe place. If you need urgent help, call 999. Be wary of accepting help from a stranger and donโt leave with someone you donโt know. If you feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to your nearest A & E department and tell the medical staff that you think your drink has been spiked, being sure to arrange for a trusted friend or relative to then take you home and if necessary, stay with you until any drugs have fully left your system.โ
He added that Licensing SAVI and behavioural scientists from the National Crime Agency (NCA) have been working on offender-focused posters and digital screen displays, targeting those most likely to cause harm and moving away from traditional โvictim blamingโ campaigns.
Other work in preparing for the return of students: posters with the trade body the Night Time Industries Association, to promote awareness of how staff at licensed premises can support victims and prevent spiking. These materials are available for free in English and Welsh, on the Licensing SAVI website: https://www.licensingsavi.com/resources/drink-spiking.
