Film premier to boost awareness around dangers of spiking
It's hoped the new film could also bring about greater support for victims
Last updated 9th Nov 2023
It’s hoped a brand new short film about spiking will help local charity Spike Aware UK spread awareness, and potentially help toughen up laws around the offence.
The premier of ‘Spiked’ took place at The Old Well Theatre in Moffat on Wednesday the 23rd of August, along with two other short films highlighting the various impacts of spiking.
Founder of production company Delilah Films, and star of ‘Spiked’ Pheobe Lorenz was in attendance, along with director Alex Shipman. They took the opportunity to thank Colin and Mandy Mackie, founders of Spike Aware UK for their support.
They say the premier is a great platform off which to spread the message even further.
Alex said: “What I’ve really enjoyed is some of the teachers coming forward and asking, can we have the films that showed today? To take into schools to help educate kids.
“So hopefully that will get to a whole audience that we as film makers would never know how to reach out to.
“Film is a medium to educate people, so it’s great that there are those educational facilities that want to work with us.”
When asked about a potential feature length sequel, Pheobe simply said “Watch this space.”
Two additional short films were also screened, showcasing the various impacts of spiking, including a personal reflection from a local victim.
Organisers are urging everyone to stay aware, and say anyone can be targeted
Mr and Mrs Mackie launched the charity after their son Greg tragically passed away in his first year at University, following what they strongly believe was a spiking.
Colin and Mandy have since made it their mission to spread awareness around the dangers, and show that this can happen to anyone.
Colin said: “This is the first time the film has been shown in the UK, which is a great thing here for us in Moffat, and a great thing here at Spike Aware."
He says Greg’s case shows spiking doesn't just happen to certain demographics:
“Greg was a male, and he kind of broke all the rules. As I say, we’ve got the media perception of girls in nightclubs. But, Greg was a young guy, he was in the halls of residence and he was drinking a soft drink.
“So if you’re out there and you think drinking a soft drink is safe, believe me it isn’t – any drink can be spiked.”
Spike Aware UK are also calling for spiking to be recognised as a stand-alone criminal offence, suggesting that too many people aren’t reporting what’s happened, as they believe no outcome will be reached.
MSP Russel Findlay was in attendance, and confirmed he would be putting forward a private members bill to see spiking recognised as an individual criminal act:
“People are being spiked in huge numbers but there are very few prosecutions occurring, and that needs to change, which is one of the reasons I’m bringing forward a private members bill. One of the things that will do is categorise spiking as a standalone offence.
“Right now, it can be recorded in two different ways which I think causes confusion, and I think what also needs to happen is the response from the night time industry, from the education sector, from the Police and the criminal justice sector more generally needs to improve.”
MSP for Clydesdale and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change Màiri McAllan was also there to show her support, first and foremost to Colin and Mandy who are two of her constituents.
Ms McAllan says more work needs to be done around spiking:
“We’ve watched three films tonight, all quite different, all taking a different interpretation of the experience of being spiked… some of it was about it happening at the time, some of it was about the aftermath, and just very raw lived experience.
“It’s very important to me to understand lived experience of this, I think criminal justice is something that we should always be keeping a close eye on developments of.
“It’s about understanding what people are going through and how we need to adapt to that.”
It’s thought the film premier could be the start of a significant boost in awareness, adding a visual element to the talks Colin and Mandy have been conducting with senior school pupils across the region, and wider afield.