Police services across the country have been participating in Anti-spiking Intensification Week (September 16 to September 22), hoping to increase awareness of the risks and precautions students can take on nights out in Manchester city centre.
The Mancunion spoke to representatives from the Greater Manchester Police about what young people can do to make themselves safer.
The dates of anti-spiking intensification week deliberately coincided with Freshers Week, when footfall in clubs and bars is higher.
Officer Worthington emphasised that the city centre was “safer than it was five years ago” and that students should “enjoy but be aware” when going out.
Increases in spiking are often seasonal, with both Freshers’ Week and the Christmas period being prime targets due to the “mass influx” of people into the city centre.
Greater Manchester Police will be deploying plain-clothed officers into pubs and nightclubs across the city centre.
Operation Custodian is a GMP operation focusing on the deployment of visible officers and volunteers across crowded areas on busy Friday and Saturday evenings to handle “the prevention side for suspects” who might commit crimes like spiking.
‘Operation Custodian’ will continue in an effort to deter criminal activity.
“Every weekend no matter whether it’s freshers week, Christmas or a drizzly Friday in February, we have operation custodian in the city centre. And that sees an increase of staff in the city centre, up from, potentially 40 extra staff […] to police the nighttime economy.”
Greater Manchester Police have been on campus during the freshers’ period to hand out drink covers (such as bottle tops or safety stickers), which can be a useful prevention tactic. They also recommend that students read the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s ‘Good Night Out‘ guide.
Self-awareness and knowledge of your surroundings were emphasised as the best way of protecting oneself from predatory behaviour and spiking. “Enjoy yourselves absolutely but be aware of your surroundings […] and what you’re doing with your drinks” said Officer Worthington, but he emphasised that it was “ultimately our job is also to prevent suspects”.
Officer Worthington advised young people to alert venue staff or talk to the police if they are unsure. He stated that if you’re feeling unsafe in any way, “Don’t ignore it, act on it!”
Furthermore, he stated, “If you are worried, if you are concerned, get in touch, this is what we are here for”.
A spokesperson for the GMP emphasised that the “myth” of date rape drugs is often outdated. Spiking often comes from additional alcohol or recreational drugs (like cocaine, MDMA and ketamine) being added to drinks. It is as deceptively simple as “Someone can just come up behind you and slip something in there [in your drink]”.
Advice for young people:
- Use the ‘Walk Safe’ app and the safer taxi scheme when returning home.
- Cover drinks or bottles wherever possible and don’t leave beverages unattended or out-of-sight.
- If someone is making you feel unsafe at a pub or bar, use the ‘Ask for Angelia’ scheme to alert staff and they can help you get somewhere safer. Similarly, contact the police if anything feels wrong about the situation.
- In the case of an immediate threat or if a spiking has occurred, ring 999 and then ask for police and ambulance services.
- Additionally, reports of spiking can be sent online after the events have occurred.
