Minister Advocates Bystander Intervention for Women Facing Spiking Risk

The safeguarding minister has urged bystanders to be ready to intervene and assist women who seem vulnerable to spiking incidents during the festive party period. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Jess Phillips recommended that individuals should “just go up to a woman… and say is everything alright” when it is safe to do so. This recommendation coincides with a meeting held at No 10, where Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer convened police chiefs, hospitality sector leaders, and transport authorities to coordinate strategies against spiking. The Labour party has also reaffirmed its commitment to designate the act of administering alcohol or drugs to an individual without their knowledge or consent as a specific criminal offence. The government had previously committed to providing additional training for bar staff, aimed at enabling them to prevent incidents, offer support to victims, and secure evidence. When questioned about a UN report advocating for bystander intervention to combat violence against women, Phillips stated that she has intervened “many times” and expressed the view that individuals would “not be offended” by someone checking on their safety. From a bar in Birmingham, Phillips noted that staff have been encouraged to intervene upon observing “bad behaviour,” such as “men bothering women on the dancefloor.” Certain experts have voiced apprehension that law enforcement agencies lack the necessary resources or willingness to address spiking incidents effectively. Phillips commented that new legislation would not “necessarily change anything,” but asserted that the government’s proposed initiatives would facilitate improved coordination between police and hospitality personnel. She further stated that the government was acting in response to advocacy from “on the front line” charities, which sought clearer legislation regarding spiking. She remarked, “These things only work if training is rolled out regularly and training becomes part of the culture of an institution.” Participants at the Downing Street meeting exchanged optimal strategies for combating spiking, with the government reiterating its commitment to providing additional training for bar staff to aid in incident prevention, victim support, and evidence preservation. Starmer addressed the meeting, stating, “As everybody around this table knows, this is pernicious. It is under-supported and underreported. We have to shift that and we are determined to do so.” Saraya Haddad, aged 27, experienced a spiking incident in 2019, subsequently waking up 13 hours later with no recollection of the events. She described the government’s proposals as “definitely positive steps in the right direction” but emphasized that “so much more” remained to be accomplished. She stated, “Spiking doesn’t just happen in bars and clubs – and it doesn’t just happen to women.” Ms Haddad sought medical attention at a hospital the day following her spiking, where she claims healthcare professionals advised against reporting the incident to the police, asserting that the substance would likely have cleared from her system. She suggested that the government should consider the healthcare sector in addition to policing in its efforts to address spiking. Libby, 18, suspects she was injected with a substance at a bar during a friend’s birthday celebration several weeks prior. She recounted, “I went to the toilet with my friend and basically fell limp. My eyes were rolling back and I was shaking and shivering.” She further mentioned that her friends and mother have been “traumatised” by the ordeal, and she feels frustrated by the absence of clear answers. She informed the BBC, “The police told me that if they don’t get back in touch it means the bar won’t give them the CCTV,” adding that the entire incident has been “swept under the carpet.” The prime minister characterized his commitment to reduce violence against women and girls by half over the coming decade as a “personal commitment.” While spiking is already unlawful, the government has pledged to designate it as a specific criminal offence; however, no timeline for new legislation has been provided, nor was there any mention of this in the King’s Speech in July. The Metropolitan Police indicate that spiking offences are encompassed by multiple laws, with the majority falling under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Starmer informed ITV’s This Morning programme that he anticipated making spiking a specific offence would encourage more victims to report incidents, describing it as a “hugely impactful” issue. “We are clearly identifying what it is, meaning we are making it easier to have a public campaign around it,” he added. Members of Parliament initially advocated for spiking to be classified as a specific criminal offence over two years ago, after a parliamentary committee concluded that such a measure could serve as a deterrent and encourage victims to report incidents. Enhancing the confidence of victims is a crucial component of the government’s objective to establish safer public spaces. The meeting involving the prime minister and leaders from the hospitality, law enforcement, and transport sectors occurred as they seek collaborative approaches to diminish spiking incidents. Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police informed the attendees about his force’s deployment of plainclothes officers in vicinities surrounding bars and clubs to detect predatory behaviour. British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi drew attention to the reintroduction of 61016, a complimentary text-to-report number available for individuals to contact the force for assistance regarding harassment on trains. Starmer mentioned on This Morning that bystanders could also utilize the number, stating: “Remember if you’re not the victim but you see it happening to somebody else, you too can use it.” Attendees at the meeting also deliberated on the methodology for counting spiking incidents across various police forces, with Sir Keir remarking that it was presently “quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers.” Sir Keir had earlier characterized the fight against spiking as fundamental to the government’s objective to “stop women being targeted, whether they are out with friends or simply travelling home” and to ensure that perpetrators of “this cowardly act” face justice. Among those also in attendance were Kate Nicholl, chief executive of UK Hospitality, and Chief Constable Maggie Blythe, who serves as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for violence against women and girls. Furthermore, up to 10,000 bar staff nationwide are scheduled to receive training over the forthcoming months, focused on incident prevention, victim assistance, and aiding police in evidence gathering. A pilot phase for this training is planned for December, preceding a broader implementation in March 2025. Ms Nicholls expressed approval for the support provided to bar and door staff, enabling them to recognize indicators of a potential spiking incident, as well as the critical subsequent actions to take. She affirmed, “We are committed to working with the government to rolling that out at pace and scale.” With this underreported crime receiving attention at the highest echelons of government, there is widespread hope that it will enhance victim confidence and contribute to safer social outings. The NPCC advises that if one suspects a friend has been spiked, they should notify a venue staff member and remain with their friend, ensuring they do not depart alone or with an unfamiliar individual. The council further recommended reporting spiking incidents online or by dialing 101, or in urgent situations, by calling 999. Individuals impacted by the subjects discussed in this report can access support via the BBC’s Action Line. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.