Sir Keir Starmer's ITV This Morning pledge to create specific criminal offence

Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed Labour's commitment to introducing a specific offence for spiking, aiming to give people "the confidence to come forward". Plans are also underway to train venue staff in relation to spiking, with a pilot set to launch within weeks and a wider rollout scheduled for next year.

The Prime Minister outlined these proposals during a meeting with police chiefs, transport officials, and hospitality executives at Downing Street on Monday morning. Attendees included Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones. On Monday afternoon the Prime Minister said in a Tweet: "Eighteen months ago, I sat on this sofa and promised that as Prime Minister, I will make spiking a specific criminal offence. Today, I am proud to say that my government will deliver on this pledge."

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Labour had pledged to introduce a new offence for spiking in its manifesto, but the King's Speech this year only mentioned ensuring an improved police response to cases, without detailing a specific crime. While spiking is already illegal, the goal is to make it a distinct offence.

Currently, spiking offences are covered by multiple laws, primarily the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, according to the Metropolitan Police. Sir Keir told the meeting: "There are a number of measures that we are setting out this morning – we want to talk it through with you."

"The first is to make spiking a specific offence so that it counts, it’s reported."

He believes this would enable everyone to have the confidence to come forward and make perpetrators aware that it's a specific offence. Delving into the details of the new initiative, Sir Keir explained: "We’re beginning the piloting of training for staff in venues."

He elaborated on its purposes: "Partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue. That will start in December with a pilot then it will be rolled out from March of next year." Highlighting a particular challenge, Sir Keir remarked: "At the moment it’s quite hard to get your arms around the pure numbers."

Drink spiking has been a concern nationally but the ECHO has also reported many instances of suspected spiking happening in Liverpool, including a student who was 'too scared to go out' after she said her drink was spiked in Wetherspoons and four young woman who all collapsed on a night out after a night out in Liverpool's Bierkeller, who also believed they were victims of a spiking.