Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to collect and publish data on drink spiking.

Since the publication of the Governments response to the ACMD report on Facilitated Sexual Assault we have taken action to protect against opportunistic drug-facilitated sexual assault. GBL and 1,4-B, which are commonly used to spike drinks, have been controlled as Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

It is also an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to give someone any substance without their consent and with the intention of stupefying them so that sexual activity can take place.

The review process of the Licensing Act 2003 allows licensing authorities to place conditions on a licence where it is proportionate and appropriate to do so. For example, CCTV requirements where spiking has been identified. Where serious offences have occurred, in particular where the premises has been negligent, the police can apply for an expedited review and the licensing authority can suspend a licence where necessary, as an interim step, pending the review hearing.

The Government’s Modern Crime Prevention Strategy, published in March 2016, sets out the Government’s three-pronged approach to preventing alcohol-related crime with particular emphasis on improving local intelligence, establishing effective local partnerships and equipping the police and local authorities with the right set of powers so they can prevent problems and take swift and decisive action after they have occurred.

In relation to the ACMD’s recommendation regarding ‘drug detectors’, the Government set up an awareness campaign, ‘Know Your Rights!’ aimed at raising awareness of the risks of drink spiking. These campaigns have been complemented by a number of local schemes.