Venues to work hand-in-hand with police to reduce spiking thanks to a TVP trial
The night time economy is the target for the deployment of sniffer dogs specifically trained to identify so-called date rape drugs
Last updated 22nd Feb 2025
A venue owner is speaking of a relief knowing Thames Valley Police are helping them put a lid on the spiking epidemic, thanks to a sniffer dog trial.
The Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips, yesterday announced the Thames Valley-wide trial would be a first of its kind and the start to a crackdown on spiking.
The specially trained sniffing dogs are being trialled as a frontline defence, patrolling nightlife areas with plain-clothes officers.
If successful, they may be able to detect even trace amounts of common spiking substances like Rohypnol when diluted in drinks.
Adam Johansen, Operational Manager at a venue called Plush, said: "Fortunately we as a venue found few that. Incidents of spiking, but that's not to say that we're complacent by any stretch.
"We work very closely with police, licencing and the Pub Watch scheme to ensure that all of our staff have the training to identify and prevent spiking from taking place."
Along with measures introduced within venues, such as so-called 'stop tops' available on bars free of charge, and the Ask for Angela and Ask for Clive schemes, the sniffer dogs deployed with plain clothed officers allow venues to feel more confident in tackling offences from all sides.
Mr Johansen added: "The first priority is ensuring that anyone that comes for a night out is able to go home, have a great time, but get home safely and everyone has a part to play in that.
"As a pub watch scheme, we share intelligence with police, so if there's suspects or any case of spiking, we will always share that information so that if there are suspects in the night time economy, they're identified and dealt with quickly."
Other measures announced will include nationwide training for venue staff and innovative police tactics to better identify and prevent offences of spiking.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said: "Being with Thames Valley Police really made me feel hopeful because what I saw was a police force trying to do innovative things, try something to to really tackle the issue of spiking and also just the predatory behaviour in the night time economy.
"This wasn't just about drug or drink spiking - this was about looking out for behaviours and looking out for people where they're targeting the perpetrators - not telling women how to behave.
"What it makes me think is that we're, we're we're on the pitch together and that we have a chance of preventing it."