Alicia Kearns MP Welcomes Changes to Spiking Legislation Following Joint Letter to the Home Secretary.

Spiking means putting drugs or alcohol into a person's drink, or directly into their body, without their knowledge or consent. It is illegal, but new legislation will "modernise" the approach to spiking and, the government claims, will help bring perpetrators to justice.

Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, has welcomed the unveiling of new measures to target spiking, following a joint letter sent by 10 MPs, including Alicia, to the Home Office calling for increased measures to tackle spiking.

The Government will clarify under the Criminal Justice Bill that spiking is illegal and this will be backed with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear definition of what spiking entails.

The new package of measures will include:

• Changes to the language of the legislation
• Research into self-testing kits
• More training for door staff and improved education for young people to raise awareness about the threat of spiking
• Coordinated police action to crackdown on spiking during key weeks of the year
• Practical measures aimed at improving understanding of the crime and delivering better support to victims

Alicia Kearns MP, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton, said: "I have long backed legislative changes to crackdown on spiking, so I am relieved by the Government's latest measures to make spiking an explicit offence, and improve protections for victims.

"The changes to legislation will send a clear message to offenders that spiking will not be tolerated in our country, and it will be met with criminal prosecution."

James Cleverly MP, Home Secretary, said: "Tackling violence against women and girls is a personal priority for me and this government has shown time and again that we will do what is necessary to keep the public safe.

"Spiking is a perverse crime which can have a lasting impact on victims. Our comprehensive new measures are designed to help police and staff in bars, restaurants, pubs and other premises to protect victims and bring more offenders to justice."