More than 2,700 spiking‑related offences were reported to the Met in the past year – a 20% increase on the previous year – but only 131 resulted in a charge, caution or summons. Over half of the victims were aged between 18 and 35.
Detectives say the "nature of spiking is changing" as offenders increasingly use over‑the‑counter and prescription medicines, THC‑laced vapes, the synthetic drug Spice and high doses of everyday drugs such as antihistamines and travel‑sickness tablets, often targeting victims in private settings like homes, student accommodation and flat parties.
Detective Superintendent Dan Thompson, the Met’s spiking lead, warned that many of the substances now used leave a "narrow forensic window" and urged victims to report incidents as quickly as possible, ideally within the first 12 hours, to allow police to secure CCTV footage, collect forensic evidence and identify witnesses.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged a citywide crackdown, including the rollout of specialised vape‑spiking detection equipment and funding for dedicated evidence‑gathering teams within the Met. Night‑time venues are being incentivised to train staff, introduce tamper‑proof glassware and expand CCTV coverage.
Police also cautioned that self‑testing kits sold online often fail to detect many prescription or over‑the‑counter substances used in spiking, and urged anyone who suspects they have been spiked to come forward even if a home test returns a negative result.
The warning follows high‑profile cases such as Chao Xu and Zhenhao Zou, who were convicted of drug‑spiking and sexual offences, underscoring the seriousness of the threat and the need for robust prevention measures.
Spiking awareness events are taking place throughout Freshers’ Week at universities across London, with Met officers testing vapes at a university event to demonstrate how quickly a device can be contaminated.