Fresh spiking warning as predators lace vapes and use 100 different drugs to poison drinks

Nearly one million people had their drinks spiked last year, as the offence surged across the UK.

Between May 2022 and April 2023, there were 6,732 reports of spiking in England and Wales.

But senior police officers say the real figure is likely far higher because the offence is so underreported.

Karen Tyrell, chief executive of charity Drinkaware, said a survey of more than 10,000 people showed 2.2% reported having their drink spiked in the past year.

‘That sounds like quite a small number of people but if you take it across the whole of the UK that is 900,000 people,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘And given it is so underreported, that is absolutely massive.’

Met Police forensic consultant Dean Ames said officers had found 100 different drugs in 1,500 urine samples.

But Rohypnol – a drug traditionally associated with spiking – was not found in a single one of them, with predators moving away from it and using other substances to incapacitate victims.

Mr Ames warned people that vapes ‘very much the new threat’, the Independent reports.

He told reporters at Scotland Yard: ‘Many of you are aware of the rise of vapes. They are very much a new threat.

They should contain nicotine, but they do contain THC – and more recently we’ve seen vapes that contain what is colloquially known as spice.

‘People could be offered a vape not knowing what they’re about to inhale. Vapes are very dangerous.’

Detective chief superintendent Angela Craggs urged anyone who thinks they may have been spiked to report it as soon as possible so tests can be carried out quickly – as many substances leave the body after just 12 hours.

She went on: ‘Spiking is a premediated and invasive crime and we are doing more to target predatory and dangerous offenders.

‘We cannot tackle spiking alone and that’s why we’re working closely with charities, venues and businesses across London and beyond – training nightclub staff to spot the signs of spiking and helping to raise awareness with those who visit pubs and clubs.

‘Our message to victims is clear – please come forward and get the support you rightly deserve from our specially trained officers.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.