Sharp objects being used to spike women, says Humberside Police Commissioner
Jonathan Evison says spiking cases linked to injections account for 1.5 per cent of overall cases nationally.
Sharp implements are largely being used to assault women and make them more anxious on nights out rather than to spike them, Humberside’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has said.
Jonathan Evison told the region’s Police and Crime Panel that spiking cases linked to injections account for 1.5 per cent of overall cases nationally.
He added that perpetrators were instead using sharp implements to toy with their victims, after putting drugs or medical alcohol in their drinks.
It comes as Panel members heard there had been one recorded case of a spiking by injection in Humberside.
Chief executive to the PCC’s office, Rachel Cook, said tests on those believed to have been spiked also found many had suffered alcohol poisoning from having too much to drink.
Mr Evison said that while the injection method was new, cases involving it remain dwarfed by spiking agents being put in drinks.
The PCC said:
“The method of spiking has changed, we now have injection spiking.
“But while some women have been assaulted with a sharp implement, the delivery of the spiking agent is still largely through drinks.
“Nationally, injection spiking accounts for about 1.5 per cent of all spiking attacks, but it’s still very frightening.
“Some idiots are putting an agent or drug in their drinks, sometimes they’re using medical alcohol which is very strong and not very good for the victim.
“A lot of the perpetrators are assaulting them with sharp implements to make it seem like they’ve been injected.
“It adds a level of anxiety for the woman, they’re doing it to see what effect they can have on them.
“We’re doing a lot of work with Hull City Council and those working in the night time economy to raise awareness of this.
“Test kits for spiking are available in a lot of venues and we’ve contacted managers and owners about it too.
“Humberside Police officers have always being out on busy nights in Hull, we patrol places like Beverley and Pocklington to a lesser degree as well.
“But it’s difficult to say what the trend with spiking is because for much of the last two years nightlife has been shut down.
Ms Cook said that while spiking was taking place, the risk to people was low overall.
But she added women should still remain vigilant.
The chief executive said:
“People who say they think they’ve been spiked can use the testing kits to find out what’s in their bodies.
“Most of the time the tests have found recreational drugs like ketamine in their system, which is unpleasant for the individual.
“There’s also been cases where it’s alcohol poisoning, their mates have given them extra shots or they haven’t had enough to eat before going out.
“But people should still not accept drinks from strangers and they should use glass covers if they can.
“What seems to be happening is that because there have been so many reports of spiking recently women tend to think they’ve been spiked when something else is wrong.”