Victim of the attack was too ashamed to report the attack to the police

Victims of spiking have spoken out about their ordeals, while police warn the crime remains under-reported due to “harmful myths and stereotypes”.

The BBC spoke to several people who said they did not report their experiences to the police, citing reasons such as “shame, embarrassment and the belief that nothing would be done”.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is working with police forces across the UK to put an end to spiking, which involves putting alcohol or drugs in someone’s drink or otherwise into their system without their consent or knowledge.

Ministers want to introduce new legislation to make spiked vehicles a specific offence, saying it would help police respond better to incidents.

Stamp Out Spiking, a charity set up to combat the rising number of spiking incidents across the UK, estimates that 90% of victims do not report the crime.

Meriwether Lewis, who lives in Bristol, told the BBC she was the victim of an attempted sexual assault in a club during her first week at university.

She was 18 years old and believes that drugs were put in her drink to calm her down, as she had only consumed two alcoholic drinks before becoming “unconscious”.

“I remember being in the crowd and we were leaving. The next thing I remember is being in the street, crying hysterically. Nobody knew what was going on,” Ms Lewis said.

“My friend told me that when they found me, I was shaking and crying and the words were just pouring out of my mouth – a man was trying to take me away, he was trying to rip my clothes off.

“I went into shock and felt the violence coursing through my body. My first thought was, ‘How could I let this happen?’. It felt like it was my fault. I didn’t tell anyone and locked myself in my room for days.”

According to police, symptoms of spiking can include memory loss, confusion, loss of ability to communicate and hallucinations.

In the years following the attack, she did not seek help or report the incident to the police out of shame, said Lewis, now 26.

“To this day, I feel it in my own body. It is so terrible that violence has so much power over you – even though I was lucky enough to get away because there are so many who don’t,” she said.

“Keeping everything to myself made me depressed. My mental health was so bad that I had to drop out of college.

“It was only when I opened up to the people around me that I got my life back and I would like to encourage others to do the same.”

Police in England and Wales received 6,732 reports of spikes in the year to April 2023. The figure includes reports of spikes where someone is injected with drugs without their consent.

However, the NPCC said the actual number of incidents was likely much higher because there were “harmful myths and stereotypes” that could prevent victims from coming forward.

It was said that the cases were difficult to investigate because the drugs pass through people’s bodies quickly and there was often a lack of evidence.

For this reason, rapid reporting and early gathering of evidence, including forensic investigations, are crucial.

So-called “spiking” is already a criminal offence and is covered by laws such as the Offences against the Person Act of 1861.

Det Insp Troy Smith, of Wiltshire Police, said: “The true extent of the spiking poisoning is not known at this time. Due to the nature of the substances used and also because it is linked to sexual assault, it is a difficult crime to investigate and prosecute.”

“It is traditionally aimed at women and girls.”

He said there were obstacles, such as a lack of trust in the police, that prevented victims from reporting spiking incidents.

Det Insp Smith said that due to their sensitive nature, sexual offences were also associated with feelings of shame and embarrassment when it came to disclosing the offences.

“Some people don’t realise it’s a crime,” he said. “Others think the police don’t take it seriously, but I’m telling you we certainly do. We can give advice and will investigate reports of spiking.”

Clara Baker, who lives in Exeter, was 16 years old when she was given drugs while ordering a soft drink at a festival.

She was invited onto a vehicle that was part of the parade and ordered a lemonade.

“First I felt dizzy, then the world started spinning. I felt sick, lost control, I didn’t even know where I was or what was going on,” Ms Baker said.

“I was really confused and had no control over my body. Looking back, I was a very vulnerable person at that age. If someone had tried to take me away, I wouldn’t have been able to defend myself.”

Mrs Baker’s friends found her and ensured her safety, but the experience remained with her for years to come.

“For so long I felt like it was my fault. I must have put myself in the wrong situation and trusted the wrong person,” she said.

“I didn’t even think about reporting it to the police because the shame was too great.”

Common myths about spiking:

Mrs Baker, now 28, says she doesn’t like going to nightclubs.

“I always want to see my drink being poured and I avoid busy environments,” she said.

“I feel hurt and that will always stay with me. It makes me angry when I think that we are made to feel ashamed even though we are victims of a crime.”

Stamp Out Spiking educates the public, night workers and emergency services through workshops and training.

Founder Dawn Dines said: “Many of the victims I have spoken to over the years were having a lovely evening and suddenly there was a complete emptiness.

“Imagine waking up the next day and knowing that someone had sex with you and you don’t know who it was. You have no memory and because of the drugs you took, you can’t defend yourself.”

“We need accredited training in our bars, pubs, clubs, public transport and hospitals. The people working there need to know what to look out for,” Ms Dines added.

The NPCC said that due to fears of under-reporting, police across the country regularly carry out targeted patrols in busy city centres to raise awareness of the symptoms of spiking syndrome.

Deputy Chief Constable Samantha Millar, who is responsible for violence against women and girls at the NPCC, said: “We encourage anyone who has been a victim of spikes to report it to the police. You will be listened to and taken seriously.”

If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this story, you can find sources of support through the BBC Action Line