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Britain’s worst drinks spiking areas revealed
The UK’s worst areas for drink spiking have been identified showing drinkers in Nottinghamshire in particular should remain cautious.
The data, from security company Get Licensed, warns that the East Midlands and East of England are potential hotspots for drink spiking with he area with Nottinghamshire local police in particular receiving 16.88 reports of drink spiking for every 100 venues.
To collate the findings, the security staffing platform looked into the number of spiking incidents throughout a whole year using Freedom of Information requests and information from police force.
This is closely followed by Norfolk, Hampshire and Essex. In fact, Hampshire saw 161 drinks spiked ahead of Essex which reported 149 spiking cases.
There were 59 reported spikings in Sussex, 16 more than Leicestershire and 20 less than Suffolk which saw 14.77 spikings per 100 venues.
Shahzad Ali, CEO at Get Licensed, added: “While the rise in drink spiking is worrying, many of us still want to be able to go out and enjoy what our local nightlife has to offer. You should never leave your drink unattended, and to be on the safe side, always try and keep your drink covered with your hand, especially when in crowds. Avoid accepting drinks from strangers unless it has gone straight from the bartender’s hand to yours, even just a sip to try someone elses drink can be risky. Also make sure to keep an eye out for any changes in your drink in terms of look, tastes or smells.”
A spokesperson from the Police reported: “Licensed venues have been proactive with their security efforts, with increased searches at the door, extra training for staff, lids for cups, testing strips, on-site medics, safe spaces for people in distress and much more. Through the hashtag #spikeaware, police forces, venues and community organisations are linked with shared information, advice and best practise, as well as support for victims. These specific measures are alongside the huge number of initiatives aimed at tackling violence against women and girls in the county, which remains a key priority for the Force.”
Ali added: “If you think you or someone else may have been spiked immediately inform the bar manager, bouncer or a member of staff. Make sure the person who has been spiked is never left alone and call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates at all.”