Drink spiking is rarely part of the conversation about first dates, yet meeting someone from an app usually means sitting in a bar or restaurant with a stranger. This guide summarises the Home Office’s published advice on spiking, including what the signs are, how to report it, what the police may do and how to help someone else. It is guidance about the police and support services in England and Wales; it names services such as Rape Crisis England and Wales, and readers elsewhere in the UK should check the equivalent local arrangements.
Spiking is a crime, and it is never the victim’s fault
The Home Office guidance “Spiking: advice and support”, published on 21 December 2023, opens with a plain statement that spiking is a crime. It sets out a right not to be spiked: people have the right to decide what they eat and drink and what goes into their body, and should not have to change their behaviour to avoid being spiked, avoid bars or clubs, or cover their drink at all times. It adds that reporting should never bring embarrassment, that the fault lies with the person who spiked, and that spiking can happen to anyone, whether a woman or a man.
Recognising the signs
According to the guidance, spiking can make a person seriously ill. The signs to look for in yourself or in someone you are with include:
- confusion and disorientation;
- nausea and vomiting;
- hallucinations and paranoia;
- poor co-ordination and vision;
- an inability to communicate clearly;
- memory loss and blackouts.
What to do if you think you have been spiked
The Home Office advises getting medical help as soon as possible by calling 999 or 111, and asking the people you are with, or venue staff, to help you access it. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. It also urges reporting to the police on 999 or 101 as soon as possible, depending on the seriousness of the incident, because some drugs leave the body in less than 12 hours. Reports can also be made online where a police force offers this, either giving a name or anonymously, and venue staff can help you call the police.
What the police will ask and do
The guidance says officers will ask about four main things: what happened, where, when, and whether you know who might have done it. They may take a non-invasive urine sample. Some drugs leave the body very quickly, so testing is best done straight away, but other drugs remain longer, and the police may still take a sample up to seven days after the incident. Results come back within three weeks and the police will discuss them with you. The police test, according to the guidance, can detect over a hundred types of drug, and the Home Office advises not to rely on self-testing kits, which may be less effective and may weaken a case against the person responsible. Other evidence the police may use includes CCTV footage and witness testimony. The guidance says to report even if it is late, because there may still be enough evidence for a prosecution.
Worries that stop people reporting
Two concerns are addressed directly. It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system, unless you are driving, so that should not stop someone reporting. And if spiking happened at a private home, reporting will not get the hosts into trouble unless they were the ones who did it; the person who spiked commits the crime.
If you think you have been sexually assaulted
The guidance directs people to their nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC), which provides medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. Services include crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections, and access to an independent sexual violence adviser. It also lists the 24/7 Rape Crisis England and Wales support line on 0808 500 2222 and Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111.
Helping someone else
If a date, friend or colleague seems to have been spiked, the guidance says to help them get medical help by calling 999 or 111, approach venue staff for help, and report the spiking to the police on their behalf if they are too unwell. It also advises staying with them and, if they are well enough, escorting them home. A person who sees a drink being spiked before it is drunk should tell the person whose drink it is not to drink it, tell venue staff who was responsible and stay to give evidence, or contact the police separately.
Sensible habits for a first date
Home Office guidance stresses that the burden of avoiding spiking is not on the potential victim. Alongside that, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s online dating advice includes practical steps for meeting someone new: tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting, check in with them before, during and after the date, meet in a public place, and do not leave drinks or devices such as phones unattended. It also suggests taking a charged phone, money for a taxi home, and not sharing a taxi with someone you do not know.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be in trouble for drugs in my system?
The guidance says it is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system, unless you are driving.
The bottom line
Spiking is a crime and never the victim’s fault. Anyone who feels suddenly unwell on a date should seek medical help, ask venue staff or friends for support and report to the police as quickly as possible, ideally within 12 hours, while still reporting later if that is not possible. Support is available from SARCs, Rape Crisis England and Wales and Victim Support, and the Home Office advises against relying on self-testing kits.