THE manager of a bar where there was an alleged spiking incident at the weekend says measures are being taken to prevent it from happening again.

Eighteen-year-old Emily Hammond, from Darlington, told The Northern Echo she believes she was spiked in the early hours of Saturday while socialising at the Hoskins, in Blackwellgate.

The teenager, who works as a kitchen assistant at a care home, became aware there was something wrong after leaving the venue and was taken to hospital after collapsing.

The Hoskins manager Helen Douglas said the venue was taking the matter seriously.

It is now trying to employ another door staff member and an attendant for the women’s bathroom.

She added they hoped to be able to carry out random searches when people enter the venue as a deterrent to stop it from happening again.

Ms Douglas, who is reviewing CCTV from the night, became aware of the reported incident the following day after seeing a post on social media.

"We are taking this as a serious incident," she said. "We are currently trying to get another door staff member and a toilet attendant for the ladies toilets as well as random searches when people enter the venue to try and deter this from happening again.”

She had spoken to the Northern Echo earlier in the evening about an initiative by Durham Police to increase the numbers of officers in the town centre at the weekend, which she welcomed due to employing a large number of female staff.

Read more: We went out on patrol with police in Darlington on Friday night

A dedicated rapid response vehicle has been introduced in the town centre on Friday and Saturday nights to enable officers to swiftly respond to vulnerability and issues of predatory behaviour at any of the town centre pubs and clubs.

The Northern Echo:

The officers are working with door staff and licensees, who alert them to any vulnerable people and suspicious, predatory or harassing behaviour within their venues, allowing the officers to intervene more quickly.

Police are investigating a spiking incident, which was reported in the early hours of Saturday, and have said they are aware of a second alleged incident, which they are looking into.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “Police are investigating an incident in which an 18-year-old woman reported having had her drink spiked at a venue in Darlington in the early hours of Saturday, March 5.

“We are also aware of social media reports relating to a second alleged spiking incident in the town centre at the weekend.

“We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of drink spiking to seek medical attention as quickly as possible and report the incident to police.

“Drink spiking is a very serious offence and over the last year, Durham Constabulary and partners have worked on a number of practical measures to make our town and city centres safer, including enhanced training for licensed premises door staff and extra weekend patrols by officers.”

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