Reports of drink spiking since 2015 (FOI)

Request 709779199

​I would like to know how many reported cases of drinks spiking there have been in the last 10 years in Jersey? Can you also provide how and where this is reported / recorded along with a gender breakdown between male and females. Currently spiking is not illegal but can only be investigated if an assault has taken place. Based on the notion that prevention is better than cure would the Government be prepared to initiate guidance on investigating the alleged perpetrators and amend the licensing law to accommodate the prevention of such actions?

Response

The total number of reported cases reported to the States of Jersey Police is 131. Please see Table 1 for breakdown between gender, how and where each case was reported. Also note that these are only cases reported by people who believe their drinks may have been spiked. There have been no confirmed cases from forensic blood or urine samples. To provide clarity to the applicant’s statement above, the act of spiking someone’s drink amounts to the common law offence of assault. Further, under Article 38 of the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2018​  it is illegal to administer “a substance to stupefy or overpower a person for sexual purposes”. This offence carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine. 

Table 1.pdf​

The States of Jersey Police would encourage anyone who believes their drink has been spiked to report it as soon as possible in order that a forensic sample can be obtained.​