Young people and members of the public have been spoken to in Nottingham as part of an awareness campaign on spiking, with officers using a “digivan” to share safety advice, encourage reporting and explain how to access testing kits.
Officers travelled to several locations across the city last week in a bid to raise awareness of the issue, including Old Market Square on Friday (20 March) and outside the Theatre Royal. A video about spiking, aimed at younger audiences, was played from the vehicle while officers engaged directly with the public.
They also visited student-populated areas such as the Arboretum and Lenton, speaking to residents, answering questions and offering guidance on how to stay safe, what to do if someone is suspected of being spiked, and how incidents can be reported.
Figures from Nottinghamshire Police show 140 spiking offences were reported last year, up from 124 the previous year. Most victims were young women aged between 18 and 21, although incidents involving young men were also recorded.
Despite a reduction in reported cases since 2022, the force believes the crime remains under-reported, noting that victims may find it difficult to come forward, particularly where incidents are linked to offences such as theft or sexual assault.
Nottinghamshire Police has now been selected to take part in a Home Office pilot scheme aimed at improving intelligence, increasing reporting and offering reassurance to victims.
As part of the initiative, anyone reporting a suspected spiking incident will be able to access a urine testing kit. From 1 April, a three-month pilot will also see multi-drug testing kits made available through partner organisations, including hospitals and health centres, rather than solely through the police.
To obtain a test, individuals must first report the incident online to receive a crime reference number, which can then be used to collect a kit from a participating location.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Berryman, the force’s lead for spiking, said the measures are intended to make support more accessible and help victims feel more confident about reporting incidents.
He said the force takes all reports seriously and urged anyone who believes they or someone else has been spiked, or who witnesses suspicious behaviour, to report it immediately so evidence can be gathered as quickly as possible.
