Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is set to host PCCs, policing leaders and partners from across the region at a roundtable event focused on the growing issue of spiking.
The event, due to be held on Thursday, December 18th at Force HQ, will examine current intelligence and trends in relation to drink and needle spiking across the North East and will hear directly from concerned students and nighttime economy partners.
Spiking remains a significant safety concern across the North East, particularly among students.
Almost half (47%) of Durham University students said they believed spiking is a ‘big issue’ in a recent study undertaken by the PCC. A further 23% agreed that it was an issue but ‘not the main issue’ – making spiking a clear priority for seven in 10 students (70%).
The PCC has fought tirelessly for spiking to be tackled more seriously and successfully lobbied the Government to create a separate standalone offence of spiking.
The roundtable will strengthen the partners’ aim to adopt a joint, regional approach to prevention, education,enforcement and victim support to ensure victims of spiking receive the policing response they deserve.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “As our research in Durham shows, spiking is a serious concern and absolutely must remain a focus for partners across the region moving forward.
“Nationally, cases have risen sharply. Behind each statistic is a victim likely to have suffered profound trauma. Many more remain silent and this must change.
“This is why we are determined to act and strengthen our response to prevent further harm in our communities and to reassure the public that perpetrators will be held accountable.
“Spiking is a vile act and must be treated with gravity. Together, we will seek out the best approaches, investigative tools and technology to reassure victims they will be believed, they will be treated sensitively and importantly, justice will be served.”
The PCC is proud to be a partner of ‘Stamp out Spiking' where you can find out how to report spiking (either anonymously or to the police) as well as a wealth of information on prevention, safeguarding, etc. To find out more visit: https://stampoutspiking.org/.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Spiking is a harmful act, it is a shamefu land insidious act carried out by cowards. Because of the harm and violation that it can cause, is it is vital that we work together to combat it.
“Cumbria Constabulary regularly work with partners to raise awareness around spiking from education of all genders to additional patrols in our nighttime economy during peak times such as fresher’s weeks and the festive period.
“By working together, we can create a stronger approach to help victims and also ensure that perpetrators face the full extent of the law for their cowardly crimes.”
Matt Storey, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland added: “Spiking is a crime, which hides in plain sight. We all know it happens but it is massively under-reported to police.
“A recent report by Cardiff University’s Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute and Stamp Out Spiking shows that two thirds of spiking victims do not speak out about their experiences
“Most of the victims identified in the report were young women with incidents mainly taking place in nightclubs, pubs and restaurants.
“CURV, the serious violence unit based within the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, has done a lot of work with businesses in the nighttime economy (NTE) in Cleveland to make it safer for everyone.
“We will continue to do all we can to ensure spiking is consigned to history and nights out become much safer for everyone as a result.”
The event is expected to be attended by representatives from Cleveland, Northumbria and Cumbria police forces alongside OPCC colleagues and Durham officers.
Ends
Picture shows (L-R): Susan Dungworth (Northumbria PCC), Matt Storey (Cleveland PCC) and Joy Allen
Editor Notes
Spiking Research Overview
Durham University students were surveyed via social media from September-November 2025. The survey focuses on a wide array of topics regarding student safety and experiences of crime in and around Durham City Centre and the university residential areas. It also includes questions on nightlife, drug and alcohol consumption, gambling, spiking, and students’ experiences and perceptions of bouncers at late night entertainment venues.
The survey received 30 responses from students via online completion. 18 of those responses were from females (60%) whereas 10 were from males (33%) and 2 from two individuals who identified as non-binary (7%). 23 of the individuals were undergraduate students (77%) whereas 7 were masters or PhD students (23%).
The main crime and safety priorities selected by students were violence against women and girls (selected by over 70% of participants) and travelling home late at night (selected by over 60% of participants). People driving dangerously and people fighting in public were also both selected by over 40% of participants each.
Spiking as a concern
Whilst the survey is broad and asks a range of different questions, question 31 asks students whether ‘they think that spiking is an issue in bars and nightclubs in Durham’, with the potential responses being ‘yes, I believe it is a big issue’, ‘yes, but it is not the main issue’, ‘I’m not sure’, and ‘no, I don’t think it is an issue’. In total,47% of respondents said that they believe spiking is a ‘big issue’, whilst 23% said that it is ‘an issue’ but ‘not the main issue’. The below points break this question down further:
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