A Parliamentary candidate has called for the Government to expedite its plans to roll out anti-spiking testing kits at nighttime venues across the region following a surge in incidents.  

Lola McEvoy, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Darlington has sent an open letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, asking for the Government to "urgently fund a rapid roll-out of free testing kits to all night-time economy workers, police and community leaders" to aid in the analysis of spiking trends, and the tracking of these criminals. 

This week, many individuals from Darlington have come forward to share harrowing experiences of drink spiking. The Stamp Out Spiking UK campaign highlights that there’s been a 108% increase in spiking incidents since 2015.

One local venue, The Gate, has come under scrutiny after a young woman alleged that she was rushed to hospital after being spiked at the venue. More than 800 members of the local community signed a petition for investigation, signifying public pressure on the issue.

Read more: Woman taken to hospital as spiking incident in Darlington

Ms McEvoy's calls for increased funding for anti-spiking tests follow a successful pilot for a similar scheme launched by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Trust. 

In Norwich, selected clubs and bars offered anti-spiking kits, so anyone who thinks they, or a friend, has been spiked, can ask at the bar for a kit to provide a urine sample, which is submitted to the Hospital Trust's lab for testing.

Biomedical scientist Michelle Frost, who launched the scheme, said: "Pre-pilot reported spiking incidents were at an all-time high, but since the implementation of the campaign, reports in incidents have dropped. This is great for public reassurance, and it may mean those performing the acts of spiking have been deterred."

Ms McEvoy believes a similar anti-spiking testing campaign is the only way the community can move forwards, and hope to support and reassure support and reassure that the issue is being addressed. 

Ms McEvoy said: "While parliament spends time debating this issue, there are cases on the ground that have been delayed or ignored due to lack of testing availability.

"Women should be able to enjoy a night out without the risk of criminals thinking they can get away with these despicable attacks as the overall strategy to prevent, gather evidence or catch these criminals in the act is missing a vital component: free, readily available tests."

"All those with an active role in the night-time economy should work together to make testing as easy as possible, and it should include all bars, the Number Forty hub, police, taxi drivers and bar and door staff."

“Cuts to police on our streets also pave the way for criminals to operate unchecked. This is a major public health concern that is woefully underfunded that will lead to deaths if action is not taken. We have a pot of money for ‘safer streets’ but it’s not enough and must be increased to cover the wave of spiking happening in our town.”

Read more: NHS advice if you think you have been spiked on a night out

The open letter has been copied to Sue Jacques, the Chief Executive of Darlington Memorial Hospital; Jo Farrell, the Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary; Joy Allen, the Durham Police Crime Commissioner; and Peter Gibson, the MP for Darlington. 

Read Ms McEvoy's letter below: 

Dear Home Secretary,

I am writing to you as Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington to raise my concern about the rising incidents of ‘spiking’ of young people in pubs and bars in our town.

Ahead of the debate in Westminster Hall set for the 11th January on the prevention of spiking, I want to draw your attention to the lack of readily available ‘Anti Spiking Kits’ here.

We are facing a surge of spiking incidents, with organised criminals injecting victims or spiking their drinks with dangerous drugs, rendering them unconscious, violently sick or worse. These criminals are evading justice because of the trackability of and lack of hard evidence of the crime. Police and PCSO numbers have been cut up and down the country since 2010 and people in Darlington are at risk as a result. We need a proper strategy to protect women and girls in our communities. 

I am writing to you and copying the town’s health and crime leaders to ask that you urgently fund a rapid roll out of free testing kits to all night-time economy workers, police and community leaders so we can begin to analyse trends and track down the criminals committing these crimes.

A number of measures have been taken in Darlington but incidents of spiking keep occurring and the community and I fear that we must take action before someone loses their life.

Anti-Spiking Testing kits have been hailed as the antidote to the surge in spiking cases in Norwich. NNUH Specialist Biomedical Scientist Michelle Frost launched the pilot across Norwich, ensuring free testing kits were available at several contact points across the city and community. She said:

“The pilot has exceeded expectations. Pre-pilot reported spiking incidents were at an all-time high, but since the implementation of the campaign, reports in incidents have dropped. This is great for public reassurance, and it may mean those performing the acts of spiking have been deterred.”

We urge you to take action on this national surge in incidents so we can protect people in Darlington, protect our emergency services and deter and prosecute the criminals who are assaulting people and evading justice. 

Yours Sincerely,

Lola McEvoy

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington.

Read next:

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