Keir Stamer to meet police and hospitality bosses over spiking

Sir Keir Starmer will meet police chiefs, hospitality bosses and transport leaders in Downing Street to coordinate action against spiking.

Those present will share best practice in tackling spiking, with the government promising extra training for bar staff to help them prevent incidents, support victims and retain evidence.

The government has reiterated a pledge to make giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing a specific criminal offence.

The prime minister described his commitment to halving violence against women and girls over the next ten years as a “personal commitment ” – and Monday’s meeting is a signal of how seriously he wants to be seen to be taking it.

Spiking is already illegal, but the government has committed to naming it as a specific criminal offence – though it has not given a timeframe for when new legislation will be introduced.

MPs first called for the measure more than two years ago, when a parliamentary committee found it could have a deterrent effect, as well as encouraging victims to come forward.

Building their confidence is a key part of the government’s mission to create safer streets.

Labour made a manifesto commitment to introduce a new offence for spiking at this summer’s general election, but there was no detail about doing so in the King’s Speech in July.

The meeting between the PM and hospitality, law enforcement and transport chiefs comes as they look to work together to reduce incidents of spiking.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police will tell the meeting how his force is deploying plain clothes officers in areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory behaviour.

British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi will highlight the relaunch of 61016, a free text-to-report number people can use to contact the force for help in the event of harassment on the train.

Ahead of the meeting, Starmer described combatting spiking as being central to the government’s mission to “stop women being targeted, whether they are out with friends or simply travelling home”.

“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,” the prime minister added.

Also present will be UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholl and Chief Constable Maggie Blythe – the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for violence against women and girls (VAWG).

There will also be training for up to 10,000 bar staff across the country over the next few months, to encourage them to prevent incidents, support victims and help police collect evidence

Ms Nicholls welcomed the support for bar and door staff to be able to identify the signs that somebody may have been spiked – as well as the crucial step of what to do next.

“We are committed to working with the government to rolling that out at pace and scale,” she said.

As this underreported crime gets attention at the highest level of government, many hope it will build the confidence of victims – and make nights out safer.