Engagement event in Falmouth to raise awareness of spiking
Devon & Cornwall Police Alcohol Licensing and neighbourhood officers and communications team staff will be engaging with students
Devon and Cornwall Police will be engaging with students at Falmouth University to raise awareness of spiking.
In Devon and Cornwall, the average of reported incidents that support a conclusion of spiking is 4%, but figures show the crime is under-reported.
Today (Monday 7 April) Devon & Cornwall Police Alcohol Licensing and neighbourhood officers and communications team staff will be engaging with students at Falmouth University to raise awareness of spiking.
Between May 2022 and April 2023 the police nationally received 6,732 reports of spiking. According to government data, the majority of cases take place in the evening and night time economy and most victims are women.
Devon & Cornwall Police have described it as an abhorrent crime that can have a significant, traumatic impact on victims, and can have severe consequences for perpetrators.
The event today at Penryn Campus, between 1pm and 3pm, is a student-led event, not in response to any incidents at the university.
Anyone who thinks they may have been spiked are being encouraged by police to tell a trusted friend or member of venue staff or security immediately so that they can be helped and any evidence can be retained. Anyone who is a victim of spiking should also report it to police as soon as possible after they are safe.
The Force has been active in distributing drink testing kits to venues and urine testing kits to police stations, and is trialling the use of urine testing by ED staff at a hospital in Devon.
You can find information about the Devon and Cornwall Police dedicated online spiking reporting form on their website, or call 101.