Great Britain
Spiking: Victims are drugged while celebrating with syringes – petition calls for stronger controls
The spiking incidents are mounting in UK nightclubs
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In the UK, incidents of spiking in nightclubs are on the rise. With a petition, the victims are now demanding stricter controls at the entrance to the clubs.
In terms of nightlife, one hears again and again of incidents with so-called “knockout drops” or other substances that are mixed into the drink of the party guests. In the UK, however, there are now increasing cases of victims being given substances with a needle prick. Some of those affected have now started a petition.
Spiking: The incidents are increasing
Police in the UK are currently investigating the cases of a total of a dozen women who were secretly fed with a needle prick in nightclubs or at parties. In addition, there have been a noticeable number of cases since September in which the victims were mixed with an unknown substance in their drink.
The Nottinghamshire Police Department has recorded a particularly high number of attacks and reports that they all took place at different events. Most of the reports come from young women, especially female students, according to the police. However, young men who believed they had been injected with a needle also came forward. Patrols are now increasing in central Nottingham and the police have their own team to investigate the incidents.
“I feel abused”
One of the victims is 19-year-old Sarah Buckle. She was celebrating with her friends in Nottingham when someone unnoticed injected her with a needle. “Before I could speak clearly, but suddenly I couldn’t get a word out,” says Buckle. She couldn’t have got up either. From then on she remembered almost nothing and woke up the next morning in the hospital. She noticed a puncture site on her hand. “I feel abused,” said the 19-year-old. “I drank too much before, but that was something completely different”.
Young woman starts petition
After the incidents in Great Britain pile up, the 24-year-old Hannah Thomson from Glasgow has now started a petition. In it, she demands a legal requirement from the government, according to which the guests should be searched before they enter a nightclub. The petition has already been signed by 130,000 people. “The response is so much bigger than I would have thought,” says Thompson. The controls could, in their opinion, be carried out with metal detectors or by scanning. “I would rather be felt than have a needle in my back,” said the 24-year-old.