100 spiked drinks a month in bars across London ‘is just tip of iceberg'

MORE than 100 drink spiking crimes are taking place in London every month, figures have revealed.

- Anthony France

Campaigners today issued urgent calls for action to protect victims amid a 13 per cent surge in spiking offences in the capital. A total of 1,383 allegations were recorded by police last year — an average of 115 a month.

But the real figure is likely to be much higher, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council warning that the issue is underreported and that cases can be hard to investigate because drugs pass through the system quickly. Victims have suffered severe physical and mental health consequences as a result of the attacks.

According to data from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the average age of victims was 26, with women targeted in the large majority of cases.

Met police officers — who arrested 70 suspects last year — are warning drinkers and bar staff to be on the lookout for predatory behaviour.

The majority of cases involve someone having their drinks spiked in pubs and nightclubs across the capital. Westminster had the highest number.

However, there were 131 reports of needle spiking in London and 28 relating to tampered food. The Government is now set to introduce a new law to make spiking a specific criminal offence in tomorrow’s King’s Speech.