Prevention of spiking incidents
Westminster Hall debate
Richard Graham MP
On Wednesday 11 January, Richard Graham MP led a Westminster Hall debate on the prevention of spiking incidents.
In his speech during the debate, he said:
"I believe that today the Government have heard a very clear message from colleagues from five different parties that something more should be done in law about spiking.
"I accept that we do not need a new and separate law, and I think most other Members do too, but I also believe that the Minister has registered the strength of feeling about our arguments for amending the existing law to include the offence of spiking in all its different forms."
During the debate, Minister for Security the Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP responded on behalf of the Government. His response included:
"This is an enormously important issue, and I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester and to all other Members who have spoken out today.
"Since 2021, £30 million has been invested in projects with a particular focus on protecting women in communities. This Government have also been absolutely adamant about setting up a tackling violence against women and girls strategy, to ensure that women and girls are safe on our streets and in our night-time economy.
"Public safety is of course paramount, which is why we worked so closely with festivals and festival organisers and the outdoor events sector last summer to ensure that the necessary protocols, training, communications and guidance were in place ahead of events, and why so much work has been done with universities ahead of freshers week. Sadly, it is a time when events can lead to offences, and we need to ensure that everyone is aware of the challenges that we face and the dangers that some people bring.
"I think there certainly are areas in which we could investigate further opportunities for co-operation and ensuring that spiking is not only reported but counted in the data, so that we can target responses in exactly the way we should for the protection of others."
Read the full Government response on Hansard.
How it works
What is a Westminster Hall Debate?
Westminster Hall debates take place in the Grand Committee Room in the House of Commons.
They give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
How Parliament works: Westminster Hall debates.
Parliamentary resources
From the Home Affairs Committee and the House of Commons Library
Petition relating to Nightclub safety
In November 2021, the Petitions Committee considered e-petition 598986 calling for the Government to legislate to require “nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry” to prevent weapons and ‘date rape’ drugs being used in clubs.
Photo credit: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
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