Police introduce spiking testing kits after rise in reported cases
Assistant Chief Constable Darren Downs
Police are to use new spiking testing kits to help combat people being drugged on nights out.
The kits, launched in response to increased reports of spiking, can recognise up to 20 different drugs and will help officers support victims and investigate.
But they will not be used to take action against anyone who may have taken recreational drugs, Humberside Police said.
A force spokesperson said: “We have seen a rise in reports of spiking, whether by suspected injection or by having something slipped into a drink, and we take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously and have investigations ongoing to determine the causes of reported incidents, and identify any perpetrators.
“We are always looking at how to improve the ways in which we respond to incidents and have now rolled out new spiking testing kits.
“These kits are simple to use and are designed to recognise up to 20 different drugs. They will be used by us for testing between four and 24 hours after the spiking is suspected to have occurred.
“A sample obtained from these new kits will assist us in quickly identifying what substances may have been used and to offer support to the victim whilst forensic enquiries are made.”
Assistant Chief Constable Darren Downs said: “These new kits are the latest items at our disposal to combat spiking. They have proven very successful and we hope their availability will reassure the public that they can spend time in our region’s venues in safety.
“The kits pick up a range of drugs associated with spiking, as well as drugs that people may have taken recreationally.
“The results from these kits will only be used for intelligence purposes. We are not using them to take action against people who may have taken recreational drugs, as we work with our partners to offer them the help they need.”
The spokesperson added: “Being spiked is never the fault of the victim and we are keen to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“For many months, we have been working with our partners to educate all parts of the night-time economy on the dangers of spiking and improving conviction rates where a crime is found to have taken place.
“The positive impact of more members of the public coming forward when they suspect they have been spiked has given us the opportunity to investigate these incidents more comprehensively, and it is hoped the new kits will allow us to tackle evidence threshold issues more effectively than ever before.
“Alongside our partners, we have been carrying out preventative work with venues across the area for several months. This includes providing spike testing kits, glass covers and bottle stoppers, as well as educating staff on how to spot signs someone has been spiked and what to do to help them.”