There have been widespread reports in the UK of "needle spiking," where a person, usually a woman, claims to have been jabbed with something in a bar.
This has received increasing attention, including from the police:
Northumbria Police area identified as one of UK's hotspots for needle spiking incidents
But the Home Affairs Committee report on spiking highlights what it calls a "new phenomenon" of needle spiking - where people are secretly injected with a substance - with often debilitating effects.
Though the North East does not feature in the top areas for overall spiking incidents, Northumbria Police was identified as one of several hotspots for the latest needle spiking trend.
Confusingly, this may be conflated with drink spiking, which is more straightforward and could be adding more alcohol or another drug to a drink.
There are numerous photos of apparent injection sites etc., but there seems to be little or no solid evidence in the form of "Ms. X was examined, a puncture wound was found, and there were barbiturates in her blood stream."
What do we know so far about reports of ‘spiking’ with needles?
This Psychology Today article, The British Needle-Spiking Panic, implies it's all mass hysteria:
- Claims of syringe attacks on British women may be an urban myth.
- Despite over 1300 'attacks' in the past 6 months, there is yet to be a single confirmed case or conviction.
- To inject someone with a needle at a nightclub while out with friends - and without anyone realizing -defies credulity.
It seems it is believed to be widespread in every part of Britain by many others:
- Senior police officer's apology to Abingdon 'needle spiking' victim
- West Country student thought her arm was paralysed after nightclub needle spiking
- Woman, 20, pointed to arm and said 'ouch' before foaming at mouth after being spiked
Is there a good explanation of what is going on?
