UK Government to Introduce Specific Spiking Offence and Bar Staff Training

New legislation aims to address underreporting, modernize laws, and improve police and venue responses to spiking incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to make spiking a standalone criminal offence, aiming to increase reporting and deter offenders.
The initiative includes specialized training for bar, pub, and club staff, with a pilot program starting in December and a broader rollout planned for March 2025.
Spiking is currently prosecuted under various existing laws, but campaigners and officials argue that a specific offence will ensure consistency in enforcement and victim support.
Police data shows over 6,700 reports of spiking in England and Wales in the past year, though the crime is believed to be significantly underreported.
The government is also relaunching the 61016 text-to-report service for harassment on public transport and deploying plainclothes officers to monitor nightlife venues.