Guernsey Charity Unveils Guide for Drink Spiking Victims

A charitable organization in Guernsey has released an information pack to assist individuals whose drinks have been spiked. This resource, titled “The Guernsey Guide to Reporting Spiking,” was developed by the Safety Night-time Economy Team (Safety Net) in collaboration with Guernsey Police. The charity stated that the guide includes an overview of the law, details on how a case can be evidenced, instructions for reporting a suspected spiking incident, and information about available support services. The organization itself was established in 2023 with the aim of addressing sexual assault, harassment, and drink spiking. Poppy Murray, the charity’s chairwoman, remarked: “Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of times these crimes aren’t being reported.” She further explained: “A lot of time the fear of the unknown can stop people from taking those next steps, so this guide clarifies everything you’d need to know about if you want to make a report or if you want to get help locally.” In Guernsey, penalties for spiking can range from up to 10 years in prison to a fine of up to £10,000, depending on the proven intention of the perpetrator. Simon Allum, who serves as the director of the PingQuays bar in St Peter Port and a trustee of the charity, shared that his drink was spiked at a wedding two decades ago. He stated: “You feel dreadful the next day, you feel violated.” He added: “As life goes, you get on with your day-to-day life; but it has always stuck with me.” Mr. Allum conveyed that the charity intends to “raise public awareness of the issue.” Detective Sergeant Tom Lowe of Guernsey Police noted that the guide offers people an opportunity to “improve their knowledge” on spiking and how to assist others. He detailed that police conduct a “number of inquiries” to either prove or disprove that spiking occurred, which includes toxicology reports, interviewing witnesses, and collecting CCTV footage. He said: “Every single report that comes in, we review it and we collect material that is required in order to prove or disprove what has happened.” He continued: “Spiking reported to us will be dealt with and we want to get people on side, so if they feel like they have been spiked they know the process behind what the police would do.“By utilising this guide, it is for people to improve their knowledge on it.”