Youth

Youth

What is drink spiking?

Drink Spiking is the unlawful administration of a mind-altering substance into another persons drink.

This does not have to be a ‘drug’ as such because alcohol itself has been unlawfully used in this manner for thousands of years. Neither is this ‘tactic’ solely confined to drink as it has also been used in food, and neither is the motive solely for sexual assault. The three most common reasons for spiking a drinks are:

Just for a laugh
Sexual assault/rape
Theft/robbery
Nevertheless the offence committed at the very least is under the Offences Against the Persons Act of 1861 of ‘unlawfully and maliciously administering a poison or noxious thing so as to endanger life or inflict GBH’ Just because it is an old Act doesn’t mean that it’s out of date. On the contrary, remember the saying ‘if the wheel isn’t broke don’t fix it’. This offence fits this situation very well, and the maximum penalty (and remember that some people do this just for a laugh) is 10 years Imprisonment

And of course the penalties if sexual assault, robbery or theft are involved are even higher.

Whilst this offence is mostly committed against women we wish to highlight that it is believed 11% of victims are male.

Only 1:5 rapes are reported each year. With over 900 drink spiking incidents reported nationally during 2002, that means that there were possibly 4,500 of these offences actually carried out. It’s hard to judge.

Young people are citizens of Colchester, as well as future electors, and we need to involve you in a meaningful way, in important neighbourhood issues. We want you to use your energy and imagination to develop ways to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for yourselves and other people in your communities and neighbourhoods.
Young people are... couch potatoes, uninformed, self centred, spaced out, and lacking motivation...
How often have you had to listen to this?
All too often young people are seen as the cause of crime but it is well known that you are more likely to be the victims of crime.
In surveys it has been found that you are more worried about unpleasant things happening to yourselves and you're friends. One third of 12-13 year old girls have been scared of going to school at some time because of bullying and nearly half of 10-11 year old girls have a fear of bullying. The majority of you are worried about physical abuse or being beaten up then of being offenders and that you also overwhelmingly agree that you are fed up with being blamed for the problems that just a few young people cause. Bullying, theft, vandalism and drugs are all issues that affect you but you have direct access to, and influence on your friends, parents, teachers and other adults.
Why not harness this influence in a group to get crime prevention messages across? Where groups are operating effectively, schools colleges and youth organisations report:

a decrease in crime and an improvement in personal safety.
a reduction in bullying
a reduction in cycle and other theft
a reduction in vandalism
a reduction in domestic burglary
a greater awareness of crime and its effect on others

All of this helps to break down this feeling that many adults have of youth being mainly responsible for crime, and can build understanding between yourselves and the older sections of your community. In some areas a large percentage of police work is nuisance-related calls about young people. Think of the benefit that you and your community could achieve if there was an effective group in your area that could cut this down.
Personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship, which is now part of the curriculum at your school or college may give you the opportunity of starting one of these groups by suggesting it to your teacher or lecturer. You may also belong to a youth group where it could be put forward to a leader. One of the most widespread means of getting involved in crime prevention is by joining or forming a youth group, such as a Youth Action Group, or junior crime prevention panel. These are the young person's version of a crime prevention panel. They are usually attached to a senior panel, or a local school, and deal with areas of crime, which are more likely to affect young people.
Young people themselves are the driving force of these groups, but they can benefit and take their plans further with help and support from adult groups such as Neighbourhood Watch.
If there is a community or personal safety issue that has emerged in your place of learning or work that is of concern to you, your friends the staff or your parents and you are interested in starting one of these groups contact the Borough Co-Ordinator or start here:

Youth Action Plus

More Helplines

Search results