THE Northern Echo asked your local police forces how they tackle spiking cases and this is what they said:

CLEVELAND POLICE

A spokeswoman for the force said it carried out testing in spiking cases, adding: “The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) also provides additional capability for testing samples and this helps to inform police forces of the local and national picture around spiking.

“For there to be a realistic prospect of a conviction, the prosecution would have to prove that there had been an involuntary intoxication of the victim.  This would be very difficult to prove if there was no evidence of spiking.”

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She said the passing of time should not discourage victims from reporting their experiences.

“Despite the time passed, we would encourage all victims who believe that they may have been spiked to contact us so that the relevant samples can be recovered.

“Victims of spiking can be understandably distressed around what has happened. We can reassure them that they will be believed and that support is available to them throughout the process.

“The provision of samples helps us to understand the prevalence of cases and the nature of the drugs used to commit such offences.”

She added: “Staff who work within the night-time economy have also received training which means that anyone can approach them with concerns, the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign means that those who feel vulnerable or unsafe can seek help from the staff at the venue they are at.

“The Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is also available to anyone who may be concerned about a sexual offence – this is independent from police and offers free support and practical help to anyone in Teesside who has experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse.”

 

DURHAM CONSTABULARY

A spokeswoman for the force said: “We carry out thorough investigations into every report of drink spiking we receive.

“The investigations are carried out by a dedicated team of detectives, overseen by an experienced Senior Investigative Officer and supported by local neighbourhood policing officers.

“Together these officers have already scrutinised hours of CCTV footage, interviewed multiple witnesses, and organised for the forensic examination of urine and blood samples.

“Drink spiking is a serious offence and one which we take extremely seriously – as demonstrated by the levels of resourcing we have allocated to it.

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“Over the past year, Durham Constabulary and partners have also worked on a number of practical measures to make our city and town centres safer, including enhanced training for licensed premises door staff, the opening of a night safety hub in Durham City and extra weekend patrols by officers.

“Anyone who believes they have been a victim of drink spiking should seek medical attention as quickly as possible and report the incident to police. If you witness a drink spiking in progress, please call 999.” 

NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE

“North Yorkshire Police works in accordance with the national response to spiking incidents.

“Our forensics are done regionally in line with national guidance.

“With victim’s consent, we take urine samples as soon as possible after the incident.

“However, it is important to note that there is much more to a prosecution than this.

“Different substances stay in the system for different periods of time, so samples are just one line of enquiry.

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“It is also worth noting that the number of incidents reported of this nature in the county are very low. Any incident reported to us, however, will be fully investigated.

“Anyone who feels they are a victim of spiking is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police. Dial 101, press 1 and pass information to the force control room.  If you or someone else is in immediate danger dial 999.”