Police officers are set to be out across a North East town this weekend in an effort to provide a reassuring presence as people enjoy partying and celebrating on New Year’s Eve.

Officers are reminding partygoers to be vigilant when it comes to spiking and are urging anyone who thinks that they have been spiked to report it to the police.

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge.

People can also be victims of “needle spiking”, which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent.

In November and December this year, Cleveland Police received 14 reports of spiking, nine of which were in bars.

Read more: Mercedes C250 and drugs seized as two Hartlepool men are arrested

All of them related to drink spiking, except for one, which was reported as spiking by injection with a  needle.

Police have been working closely with licensed premises in order to raise awareness of the dangers of spiking, as well as distributing posters to be displayed in bars.

The force has also been visiting bars, speaking to visitors, licenced premises owners and door staff in an effort to raise awareness.

Officers have also linked with licensed premises around raising awareness of ‘Ask for Angela’. 

People who feel that they may be in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation can go to the bar and ask for Angela.

 Bar staff will recognise this code and assist that person or help them to leave the bar discreetly.

Cleveland Police are also continuing to target Violence Against Women and Girls (VWAG) as part of the government’s “Enough” campaign.

Jon Tapper, chief inspector, said: “Spiking can be a devastating experience for the victim.  To feel completely helpless and unable to function normally is terrifying for a victim who may not know what has happened to them. 

“Victims might also feel that they will not be believed, with some assuming that they may have simply had too much to drink, leaving them even more vulnerable to predators. 

“Spiking can be a complex and challenging offence to investigate, as drugs pass through the system quickly, leaving limited evidence to catch those responsible. 

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here

“We would urge anyone who believes that they have been spiked, to report this to police as soon as possible in order to preserve evidence.”

Follow these steps while you’re out on New Year’s Eve:

  • If you think that you’ve been spiked, call 101 and report it to police. 
  • If you are in a bar, you can report it to staff who can help and support you and contact police on your behalf.
  • If you are injured or have symptoms you are worried about after being spiked, call NHS 111.
  • If you think you’ve been sexually assaulted, you can go to your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support.