FOI 375712
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 375712
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 2nd December 2024. Please find below the response to your request:
I am making an FOI request about drink spiking.
I would like the following information:
1) how many spiking cases were reported from 2018 to 2023, in calendar years.
2) how many charges were given for spiking offences from 2018 to 2023, in calendar years.
3) whether the confirmed offences of spiking were in a public place or at home.
4) how many confirmed spiking offences were linked to sexual assault, 2018 to 2023.
Reply
West Mercia Police hold the information requested
Caveat: For the dates requested there is no specific offence of spiking. This means the figures given below may not be accurate as a keyword search has been used from the incident summaries and a manual check has not been carried out due to the volume. The new offence for spiking starts in December 2024.
- how many spiking cases were reported from 2018 to 2023, in calendar years.
|
Total Number of "Spiking Offences" |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Grand Total |
53 |
62 |
63 |
205 |
241 |
214 |
838 |
- how many charges were given for spiking offences from 2018 to 2023, in calendar years.
|
Police Outcome |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
6 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
19 |
|
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
7 |
1 |
8 |
||||
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule. |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Type 12 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Too Ill (Physical Or Mental Health) To Prosecute, or confirmed died either before crime reported or before enough evidence to charge |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Type 13 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Victim Or Key Witness Is Dead Or Too Ill To Give Evidence |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Type 14 - Evidential Difficulties Victim Based- Suspect Not Identified: Crime Confirmed But The Victim Either Declines Or Unable To Support Further Police Investigation To Identify The Offender |
11 |
7 |
7 |
40 |
64 |
40 |
169 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
9 |
22 |
16 |
27 |
27 |
24 |
125 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
11 |
13 |
12 |
39 |
21 |
26 |
122 |
|
Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
16 |
13 |
18 |
93 |
125 |
114 |
379 |
|
Type 20 - Further action resulting from the crime report will be undertaken by another body or agency subject to the victim (or person acting on their behalf) being made aware of the act to be taken |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|||
|
Type 21 - Further investigation resulting from crime report which could provide evidence sufficient to support formal action against the suspect is not in the public interest - police decision. |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Ongoing/Under Investigation |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
53 |
62 |
63 |
205 |
241 |
214 |
838 |
3) whether the confirmed offences of spiking were in a public place or at home.
|
Location Type (Home or Public Place) |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Home |
7 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
21 |
|
|
Public Place |
17 |
10 |
12 |
46 |
63 |
61 |
209 |
|
Unspecified |
29 |
49 |
49 |
153 |
178 |
150 |
608 |
|
Grand Total |
53 |
62 |
63 |
205 |
241 |
214 |
838 |
4) how many confirmed spiking offences were linked to sexual assault, 2018 to 2023.
To provide this data a keyword search has been carried out on offences under the primary group ‘Sexual Offences’. As above this may mean the data is not accurate.
|
Total Numbe of "Spiking Offences" linked to Sexual Assaults |
Calender Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
SEXUAL OFFENCES |
12 |
20 |
17 |
31 |
40 |
40 |
160 |