Essex Police's Maldon Town Team joined forces with Maldon District Council on Saturday night (July 20) to promote anti-drink spiking information and merchandise. 

The 'night of action' attempted to raise awareness of drink spiking, providing anti-spiking information and merchandise to passers-by.

Spiking is defined in the law as a crime to "maliciously administer, cause to administer or cause to be taken by any other person any poison or destructive or noxious thing". 

It is usually committed with the intention to physically harm, thief or sexually offend a victim. 

Drink-spiking can also have longer-term physical, emotional and mental health impacts and so is regarded as a serious crime. 

There were 151 reported spiking incidents during the first half of 2023 (Credit: Essex Police - Maldon District)

A YouGov poll taken in December of 2022 showed 10% of women and 5% of men reported being spiked. 

According to data from the National Police Chiefs' Council published in December 2022, the average age of victims across all types of spiking was 26 years old, with women being victims 74% of the time.

Essex Police say they are committed to tackling crimes involving spiking; 151 county-wide crimes were reported during the first half of 2023.

The UK police received 6,732 national reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023.  

Police nationally are also prioritising spiking, launching Operation Lester in 2021 to coordinate a national response to the crime and appointing a dedicated lead for every police force. 

The NPCC reports that 80% of all incidents happen in public places, with half being in a bar. Crimes also have been committed in nightclubs, town centres, house parties, student unions, festivals and music arenas. 

The government website gives symptoms to look out for if you or someone you know is spiked, including confusion and disorientation, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations and paranoia, poor coordination and vision, an inability to communicate clearly and memory loss and blackouts. 

Guidance or further information on the crime can be found here.