21
Deferred
Disappointment over exceptionally low number of successful spiking prosecutions
Conclusion
Successful prosecution has a deterrent value for both actual and would-be spikers and sends a clear message that spiking is a crime. We are therefore disappointed by the very low number of successful prosecutions for spiking offences.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for more successful prosecutions and will include the outcomes of discussions with police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney General’s office on factors inhibiting prosecutions in the statutory report on spiking, due to be published no later than 28 April 2023.
Paragraph Reference
103
Government Response
Deferred
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government recognises that there a number of factors which inhibit our ability to successfully target and prosecute individuals who commit spiking offences, not least of all the under-reporting discussed in the response to recommendation 2. We have begun preliminary discussions with a number of police forces on what they see as the factors which inhibit prosecutions and intend to have similar conversations with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney General’s office. The outcomes of these discussions and what action we can take to mitigate these factors will be included in the statutory report on spiking, due to be published no later than 28 April 2023.
Source
Committee
Home Affairs Committee
Inquiry
Spiking
Report
Ninth Report - Spiking
26 Apr 2022
HC 967
Addressee Bodies
Home Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.1 yrs
Report published
26 Apr 2022