We received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA):
For the time period covering 01/09/21 to 20/07/23, please provide:
• The number of reports received by the force in relation to spiking via injection.
• The number of arrests made by the force in relation to spiking via injection.
• The number of subsequent charges made in relation to spiking via injection.
• The number of subsequent convictions in relation to spiking via injection.
Please provide the above information in an Excel spreadsheet format, presented as a month-by-month breakdown.
Our Response:
Please see the below table for the requested information.
Period |
Crimes |
Arrests |
Charges |
Convicted |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sep-21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Oct-21 |
22 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Nov-21 |
39 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Dec-21 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jan-22 |
20 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Feb-22 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Mar-22 |
14 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Apr-22 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
May-22 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jun-22 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Jul-22 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Aug-22 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Sep-22 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Oct-22 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nov-22 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Dec-22 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jan-23 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Feb-23 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Mar-23 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Apr-23 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
May-23 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jun-23 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jul-23 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Notes
Information represents the number of crimes recorded during the period which:
- were not subsequently cancelled,
- were either classified as one of the following offences or included the following keywords in the crime notes / MO:
Offences:
005/05 Administering drug with intent to commit indictable offence,
005/10 Administering poison so as to endanger life,
005/24 Use of noxious substances of things to cause harm and intimidate,
008/02 Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy,
088/05 Administering a substance with intent.
Keywords:
SPIK and NEEDL,
SPIK and INJECT,
SPIK and SYRING,
SPIK and SCRATCH.
- specifically related to the victim believing they had been "spiked" - i.e. a substance administered without their knowledge,
- the substance was administered by means of injection.
Information excludes:
- offences where the victim is forced to take a substance, suspecting it to be a drug etc.
- offences involving substances being taken willingly,
- offences involving long-term poisoning.
Arrest information represents the number of those crimes recorded during the period which resulted in one or more arrests.
Charge information represents the number of those crimes recorded during the period which resulted in one or more charge/summons for the specified offence.
Conviction information represents the number of those crimes recorded during the period which resulted in one or more convictions at court for the specified offence.
Information is subject to further investigation, reclassification and cancellation, and may therefore change over time.
Crime classifications based on Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded: Home Office Crime Recording Rules for frontline officers & staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The issue of drinks spiking has been one West Yorkshire Police has been alive to, recording and investigating for a number of years now. Following the increase in Drink Spiking and Spiking through Injections offences, West Yorkshire Police have responded quickly with partners and created a dedicated multi-agency co-ordinated response under Operation Jeanhaven.
This approach is supported by Health, the dedicated Community Safety Partnerships, Education providers and other key partners including licensing and pubs, clubs, and bars and across the night-time economy in Leeds and West Yorkshire. The aim is to safeguard the public and protect against this offending and bring those responsible to justice.
Further information can be found via the following link - item-8-community-outcome-meeting-december-vawg.pdf (westyorks-ca.gov.uk)
Offending can take place against women and men in a wide variety of scenarios including domestic situations in which an attempt is made by a person to harm another known to them, and in the night-time economy. This kind of offending in the night-time economy has of course come to prominence as part of the wider debate around violence against women. The issue of women’s safety is rightly a key national and local issue and we do understand the genuine safety concerns that women have.
All offences of spiking that have been reported are recorded as a crime in line with the force’s crime recording policy and then investigated. West Yorkshire Police has been working closely with fellow agencies including NHS colleagues, the wider public health arena and local authorities to better understand offending, including spiking by injection, and pursue available investigative opportunities.
Crimes recorded are of course subject to further investigation, reclassification and cancellation, and may therefore change over time.
We also of course continue to work alongside partner agencies and licensees to advise users of the night-time economy about the issue and remain absolutely committed to doing everything we can alongside our partners to make the county a safer place.