Devon and Cornwall Police advice to students on spiking
The nationwide campaign comes as Freshers week comes to a close
Last updated 20th Sep 2024
People across Devon and Cornwall are urged to seek support from the police if they fear they've been spiked.
The Nationwide campaign for 'Spiking Week' launched this week as Freshers have been arriving to universities across the country.
Devon and Cornwall Police have had around 160 reports of spiking, around three reports a week of spiking on average, in the last 12 months.
Of those reports, only three and a half per cent showed the presence of a drug indicating a spiking may have occurred.
David Flynn, alcohol licensing sergeant from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "One of the things we've worked on this year with Falmouth University is their student support team have been equipped with urine test kits so if potential victims are reluctant to go to police they can seek support from their student support teams who can conduct a test."
Spiking is illegal and can lead to up to ten years in prison.
David added: "We had an example in Plymouth over the weekend where a customer had a look at the drink and thought it didn't look right. They went to staff who tested it and it indicated there were drugs in that drink.
"They were safeguarded and given a new drink. In reality, that person was prevented from taking whatever was put in that drink and becoming a potential victim of crime."