We were invited to attend  a roundtable discussion attended by key stakeholders—including Jess Phillips MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, to offer our perspective on how victims are treated by venues, the police and NHS staff after they have been spiked. As part of our Safe Place Project we provide venues with trauma-informed and victim-led training to ensure that staff are putting the victim’s feelings at the forefront, something that we spoke heavily about at the roundtable. Experts gathered to discuss ways to combat the growing issue of spiking in the night time economy. This session was a crucial opportunity to bring together a range of voices, from the police to the Home Office, alongside victim support groups and other organisations working toward practical solutions. The conversation centered on prevention, victim support, and ensuring that venues and authorities take action in a way that is both effective and empowering.

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The roundtable opened with a comprehensive overview from the police on the steps already being taken to address spiking, particularly through Operation Lester, a targeted initiative to combat spiking in venues across the UK. The police outlined their ongoing work to increase awareness, gather intelligence, and create safer spaces for individuals, especially in nightlife settings where spiking incidents are more prevalent. Particular significance was brought to the fact that 92% of spiking incidents go unreported to the police and therefore it was discussed at length how we can increase this. Operation Lester has focused on improving detection, encouraging reporting, and increasing penalties for those caught spiking.

Following this, a representative from the Home Office provided an update on the national-level initiatives aimed at tackling spiking. The government has been working to strengthen legislation, improve victim support services, and provide additional resources to both local police forces and venues. 

The discussion then moved into a more strategic realm, exploring further opportunities for prevention, avenues for stakeholder training, and improvements to current testing regimes. It was evident that, while progress has been made, there is still much more to be done to address the issue from multiple angles. We took the opportunity to speak about our campaign ‘Spiking Out, Justice In’ whereby we are petitioning for spiking to be made a standalone criminal offence which received backing in the room. Stakeholders discussed how preventative efforts could be increased, not only in terms of making spiking a standalone offence but also through educating venue staff and the broader public about the signs of spiking and how to respond effectively.

One of the key areas discussed was the need for wider training for venue staff. This would ensure that those working front of house—bar staff and security —are equipped to spot the signs of spiking and know how to respond appropriately. Importantly, training would also help to reduce the stigma surrounding spiking and encourage victims to come forward without fear of being dismissed or blamed.

During the stakeholder discussion, we took the opportunity to highlight a crucial aspect of combatting spiking that has often been overlooked in previous conversations: the importance of victim-led, trauma-informed training. As the data Spike Report and direct conversations with victims have shown, the first thing victims of spiking want when they come forward is not to understand exactly what has happened to them, but to know that they are believed and listened to. As mentioned in our Spiking Out, Justice In campaign - victims report feeling dismissed, ignored, and even blamed for the incident, which only exacerbates the trauma they’ve already experienced. The Egaliatarian is a community led organisation therefore being able to share the experiences of victims and give their voice a platform was crucial to discussing next steps to combatting this crime.

We made it clear that training for venues and frontline staff must be centered around understanding the impact of trauma and providing a supportive, empathetic response to victims. A trauma-informed approach prioritises the well-being of victims, ensuring that they feel safe, heard, and supported throughout the process.

Jess Phillips MP was incredibly receptive to this perspective, acknowledging the profound importance of ensuring that training isn’t just about knowing the signs of spiking but about how to create an environment where victims are treated with respect and care. It was heartening to hear her express strong support for victim-centered approaches and the need for any intervention or response to be grounded in empathy and understanding.

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