Amid the busy Christmas period, plans will be drawn up this week to modernize alcohol laws to ensure “women and girls can live without fear”, the government has said.
Ministers are under pressure to make needle sticking and drinking alcohol separate criminal offences, while activists and opposition parties are calling for tougher measures to protect women.
In the 12 months to September 2022, police in England and Wales received nearly 5,000 reports of suspected needle and alcohol incidents, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Although the full details are not yet clear, the Home Office has announced that it will amend the Criminal Justice Act and update the Offenses Against the Person Act 1861. to make it clear that diving is illegal.
Spiking is when someone puts drugs into another person’s drink or directly into their body without their knowledge or consent.
Officials said there would also be separate regulatory guidance that would provide a “clear” and “unambiguous” definition of peak levels.
This is expected to take the form of an update to the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.
Home Secretary James Cleverley said: “The public should be under no illusions: peak diving is a serious crime and I urge anyone who suspects they have been a victim to contact police immediately.”
The Home Office said the changes are part of a wider package of measures to protect women and combat the surge in numbers.
Mr Cleverley said: “This Government has already gone further than ever before to protect communities from harm and ensuring women and girls can live their lives without fear is one of my top priorities as Home Secretary “
Spiking is currently regulated in several areas of law, but there is no specific criminal offense for which perpetrators can be prosecuted.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said action was “long overdue”.
“The Labor Party has repeatedly warned that dive-bombing is a dangerous and destructive crime that is too often not taken seriously enough.
“Stricter measures are to be welcomed, but the spikes should have been addressed much earlier.
“The Labor Party has called for the creation of an independent top offense to make it much easier to take action against dangerous criminals. We need to do more prevention work in clubs, pubs and bars and ensure the criminal justice system takes this more seriously.”
“Tackling violence against women and girls will be a core priority of the next Labor government.”
“Young people, especially young women, will never have to worry about whether their drink is safe.
Additional reporting from the Press Association
Source: I News
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