Spiking 2017-2021 - 1422/21

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

You asked:

1.  How many reports have been made of a spiking incident involving an injection in each of the following years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (to date).

As above, could you please give as much detail as possible about such reports, including month of report, ages and gender of victim and perpetrator, place of reported incident and the outcome of report (any arrests, charges, investigation ongoing etc).

2.  How many reports of a drink spiking incident were made in each of the following years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (to date).

As above, could you please give as much detail as possible about reports, including month report was made, ages and gender of victim and perpetrator, place of reported incident and the outcome of report (any arrests, charges, investigation ongoing etc).

In Response:

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.

 

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted within the Corporate Development Department of Northumbria Police.  I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police. 

 

I am able to disclose the located information to you within the attached document, however the following caveats should be noted:

• The results attached are based on searches of the following offences:

- Wounding:- using chloroform etc.  to commit or assist in committing an indictable offence

- Administering poison so as to endanger life

- Use of noxious substances or things to cause harm and intimidate

- Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy

- Administering a substance with intent

• We have also included cases wherein the Method/Means states “Spiked Drink”
• It should also be noted that drink spiking can take place in locations other than bars and nightclubs, for example domestic or residential homes.  These incidences will be included in this dataset.
• Where numbers are low, these have been presented in such a manner (grouped) as to avoid the application of exemptions relevant under the act (Section 40 – Personal Information), and these will not be broken down further.