Drink spiking: Coalition in Brighton would support government action to tackle spiking

The Home Affairs Committee, which held an inquiry into spiking earlier this year, said places where spiking is more likely to occur, such as pubs, clubs and festivals, must be safe for all.

Local authorities and licensing authorities need to ensure that venues have adequate security and staff trained to identify spiking incidents, it said.

Brighton Pier boss Anne Ackord

Coalition in Kings Road Arches said the welfare of its customers is of “paramount importance” and that it would welcome taking “all reasonable steps” to ensure their safety.

Owners Anne Ackord, chief executive ffficer of Brighton Pier Group PLC and Nick Lewis, operations executive of Eclectic Bars Ltd said: "We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any substance abuse.

“We work closely with local authorities, the police and other stakeholders and have trained our staff on all national schemes such as the 'Ask for Angela' initiative and the Safer Sounds Partnership’s Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement programme.

An Argus investigation revealed the extent of drink spiking in Sussex

“We have a comprehensive safety charter on which all staff are briefed when joining the company. This training is revisited regularly in order to maintain the high standards we hold for customer well-being.

"Our customers have the right to enjoy a safe night out and our staff to work within a protected environment. We have addressed all the issues under discussion at the highest level and we will not rest until the blight of drink-spiking is eradicated."

A freedom of information request by the Argus revealed that 108 spiking incidents were recorded by Sussex Police between January 1 to October 31, 2021.

MPs have said venues with bad track record on spiking ‘must improve to have licence renewed’

Between January 1, 2016, and October 31, 2021, a total of 473 incidents involving spiking have been recorded.

Of the 108 offences, 61 of the crimes were committed in Brighton and Hove and 90 of the victims from across the county were female.

In the five years up to October 31, just two people have been charged or summoned in relation to spiking incidents.

• READ MORE: Argus investigation: Figures reveal extent of drink spiking in Brighton

In the majority of cases, investigations were completed, but no suspect was ever identified.

Venues with a bad track record on spiking and wider issues relating to violence against women should have improvement measures required as part of their licence renewal.

Not enough is being done to support spiking victims and it will remain an “invisible crime” unless action is taken to improve awareness, according to the report.

It said it is difficult to know the true scale because a culture of victim-blaming and a lack of co-ordinated support has meant many incidents are going unreported.

The offence of drink spiking does not have a specific Home Office crime code.

But creating a new criminal offence for spiking, which the Government is considering, would make victims more likely to come forward and signal to perpetrators that such behaviour will be punished.