WARNING ISSUED AS DRINK SPIKING INCIDENTS RISE BY NINE PERCENT IN LONDON, WITH ONLY ONE IN 20 LEADING TO A CHARGE

Daily Mail

 

Warning issued as spiking incidents rise by 9% in London... with just one in 20 leading to a charge

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:42 EST, 11 December 2025 | Updated: 08:46 EST, 11 December 2025

 

Spiking incidents have risen by almost 10 percent in London with only one in 20 leading to a charge, as the Met Police issue a warning ahead of the festive season.

 

The force saw a huge surge in charges being brought over the crime, but it is believed only a fraction of cases are ever formally reported.

 

The Met received more than 2,700 reports of spiking between December 2024 and November 2025, with 125 percent more charges brought compared to the year before.

 

The term refers to causing a person to ingest a substance without their consent, typically by covertly contaminating a drink with a pill or liquid.

 

But police are warning that other forms of spiking are on the rise, including spiking of vapes and even food.

 

It comes after a series of shocking cases emerged in recent months, including an alleged spiking by an MP at a Commons bar and GMB's Ranvir Singh revealing she was left unable to hear or walk after just half a glass of spiked wine.

 

The Met saw a nine percent increase in reported spikings over the past 12 months, but just 126, or less than one in 20, resulted in a 'positive outcome' - which can include a charge being brought.

 

Women and girls continue to be the main targets of the crime, making up two thirds of all incidents reported to London force.

 

It is calling for more victims to come forward if they believe they have been spiked.

 

It follows several high profile cases of alleged spiking this year, including the probe of an MP who was accused of contaminating a parliamentary researcher's drink with a date-rape drug.

 

The incident occurred in Strangers' Bar in the Commons on January 7.

 

Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh also revealed this summer she was left 'unable to hear or walk' after a horror drink spiking incident.

 

The presenter, 47, told how she was left with 'no memory of getting home' after the incident some years previously.

 

She said she had drunk just half a glass of wine before 'everything started to swim' and she just 'felt her legs go'. Ms Singh added she left the bar but had no memory of the rest of the evening or how she ended up home safely.

 

And in August teenager Cooper May, 17, told how he was left fearing he would die after being spiked at Broadmasters festival earlier in the summer.

 

While enjoying watching headline act RAYE in the midst of a bustling crowd, Cooper suddenly began to 'freak out', feeling 'really hot' and 'weird'.

 

After returning to his tent, the youngster was left afraid to fall asleep because he feared he would not wake up. His friends later found a 'spike mark' on the teenager's arm, leading them to believe he had been spiked by injection.

 

In a statement, the Met Police said: 'Early reporting is vital to securing charges and preventing reoffending, and officers are urging anyone who suspects they have been spiked to contact police immediately.

 

'The sooner evidence can be collected, the greater the chance of identifying offenders and stopping them from harming others.'

 

Turning to new technologies to try and tackle the crime, the Met is currently exploring the use of vape-spiking detection equipment which would be able to test suspected vapes for drugs such as THC and spice.

 

The tech is already available in some venues including nightclubs or schools and at festivals.

 

Officers are also using pop-up VR stations around the capital to educate people on what to do if they suspect they, or somebody else, has been spiked.

 

It comes after Met officers expressed growing concern this year over reports of vapes being tampered with.

 

Last year five pupils from a school in Eltham, southeast London, fell seriously ill with symptoms including vomiting and confusion after using a spice-laced vape.

 

Emergency services attended and one of the children was so unwell they had to be placed in an induced coma. Fortunately, they later recovered.

 

In July this year the 'zombie drug' spice was also found across secondary schools in Wiltshire prompting police to issue a stark warning to parents.

 

A shocking study last year found one in six vapes confiscated from school children in England was laced with the substance.

 

Commander Clair Kelland, the Met's public protection lead, said: 'Spiking is a frightening crime that can have devastating consequences. No one should feel the need to change their behaviour to protect themselves from becoming a victim of an illegal offence.

 

'While we are determined to prevent spiking and continue working closely with partners and venues, it's encouraging to see more people coming forward.

 

'But we need even more victims to report incidents as early as possible – it's the key to identifying offenders and stopping them from harming others.'