UK government to create new spiking criminal offence

Spiking will become a new stand-alone criminal offence, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office announced late on Sunday, as the British leader reiterated a vow to halve violence against women and girls.

Starmer will convene police chiefs, industry executives and transport bosses in Downing Street on Monday, when he will urge more collaboration “to keep women and girls safe”, his office said.

It comes with long-standing fears about female safety in public places increasing in recent years, in part after serving police officers were convicted in several high-profile cases of the murder and rape of young women.

Police forces also recorded an increase in drink-spiking incidents in 2021 – which they say has since declined – alongside a worrying new phenomenon of needle spiking.

That is where people are injected with sedatives and other drugs intended to make them lose consciousness in places like nightclubs.

Spiking is currently prosecuted in England and Wales under various existing laws, some dating back to 1861.