Starmer announces plans to tackle drink spiking

Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to make drink spiking a specific criminal offence, alongside new training for hospitality staff, as part of Labour’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Speaking at a Downing Street meeting with police chiefs, transport officials, and hospitality leaders, the prime minister said the measures would give people “the confidence to come forward”.

A pilot scheme will be launched in December, with thousands of staff in the night-time economy to be trained by spring 2025. The programme will focus on preventing spiking, supporting victims, and aiding evidence collection. Starmer emphasised the importance of safety for women and girls, stating: “My government was elected on a pledge to take back our streets, and we will never achieve this if women and girls do not feel safe at night.”

The government aims to train 10,000 hospitality workers as part of a nationwide rollout beginning next March. Starmer added: “Cracking down on spiking is central to that mission. We know it can be incredibly difficult for victims to come forward to report this awful crime, and these cases can be very hard to prosecute. We must do more to bring the vile perpetrators who carry out this cowardly act, usually against young women and often to commit a sexual offence, to justice.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called spiking a “disturbing and serious crime” and pledged action: “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”

Labour has pledged to halve VAWG in the next decade, with additional measures such as deploying plain-clothes officers near bars and relaunching the 61016 text service for harassment reporting on public transport.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster, said:

“Hospitality Ulster welcomes the introduction of the pilot scheme that will see 10,000 bar staff across England and Wales trained to deal with incidents of drink spiking. We also welcome the announcement that the UK Government is to make spiking a standalone criminal offence.”

“Northern Ireland’s pubs, bars and nightclubs are the safest places to enjoy a drink and socialise, with reports of spiking thankfully rare, but every operator knows that one incident is one incident too many.

“We work closely with the PSNI and the Executive Office, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Team and as chair of the NI Safer Socialising Steering Group, Hospitality Ulster takes the ending of violence against women and girls, who spiking disproportionately affects, seriously. Spiking, whether done by bad actors adding drugs to a drink, or by friends who think it is funny to add an extra measure to a mate’s drink, is wrong and must be stopped.”

“It is imperative that everyone take on the responsibility to stop any occurrences of spiking, in any form from happening no matter how rare and avoid placing responsibility on potential victims. With that in mind, Hospitality Ulster would welcome the introduction of both this pilot training scheme and new law in Northern Ireland and we look to Stormont to follow suit.”