After a year in which the UK has witnessed an increase in violence against women, the British must now guard their backs from another anomalous danger. In recent weeks, in fact, more and more cases of so-called “needle-spiking” have been reported, ie the administration of drugs or drugs through syringes, often in crowded clubs or discos.
It is a variation of the more common spiking, where rape drugs or sleeping pills are smuggled into drinks. The criminal phenomenon affects young women most of the time. The New York Times reports, however, that the testimonies of English girls, especially students, are increasingly frequent, who, during an evening in a crowded club, feel a strong pinch in the back, only to lose consciousness a few minutes later. There are currently 15 reports in Nottinghamshire and a few others between Manchester and Edinburgh. It is therefore still a small phenomenon, but so worrying that Yvette Cooper, chairman of the select committee on home affairs, asked the police to review the reports and compile a full national assessment. “There is no proactive assessment of what the scale of the problem is,” he said, adding: “It is still seen as the victim’s responsibility to protect himself.” Police, who are now investigating the reports, say that no other offenses, including sexual assault, have followed the injection complaints and that there has been no arrest to date.
After months of restrictions and limitations to sociability, female students cannot yet fully regain possession of their freedom. The problem of drink alteration was already a very serious issue in the country, so much so that a survey conducted by the BBC in 2019 had brought to light more than 2,600 cases in England and Wales since 2015. Of these, 72% concerned women, among which there was an increasing number of minors. Now, there is the fear of a new danger, which speculative posts on social media – reporting of infected needles and criminal gangs – contribute to fuel.
In this climate of anger and fear, a local group of girls called “Girls Night In” has launched a petition to ask clubs that all incoming people be searched, threatening a boycott. The message that we intend to convey is that it is not the girls who have to protect themselves by locking themselves in the house, but the owners of the premises must ensure the necessary safety measures. Primrose Sparkes, a 20-year-old girl who launched a similar boycott of Durham University, remembered the main factor to consider when going out had always been whether or not she had a class the next morning. Now he asks himself “Do I feel safe?” he told the New York Times, “There’s an element of fear that wasn’t there before.”
Some clubs are starting to adapt and take precautions, checking the contents of pockets and vests at the entrance or equipping all staff members with body cameras. The authorities, on the other hand, declared that they had intensified patrols and collaborated with local universities and hospitals to frame the phenomenon.