Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to make drink spiking a specific criminal offence in the UK, aiming to enhance protections for women and girls.

He emphasized the necessity for coordinated action among police, hospitality sectors, and transport officials to effectively combat violence against women and girls.

Additionally, a text-to-report service for harassment on trains will be relaunched, showcasing a multi-faceted approach to enhancing safety.

As part of this initiative, a pilot program will train 10,000 hospitality staff to recognize and respond to signs of drink spiking, with full training expected by spring 2025.

Currently, drink spiking is illegal under various laws, but the proposed legislation aims to modernize and specify these regulations.

A report from 2022 highlighted that without adequate support from police and venues, drink spiking remains largely unaddressed, with 90% of victims lacking assistance.

From September 2021 to September 2022, nearly 5,000 incidents of needle and drink spiking were reported in England and Wales, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council.

The Labour Party included the commitment to address drink spiking in their manifesto for the summer 2024 general election.

This initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to halve incidents of violence against women and girls over the next decade.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has acknowledged the seriousness of spiking and outlined measures for improved victim support and police response.

Police will also deploy plain-clothes officers in nightlife areas to identify predatory behavior and improve support systems for victims.

Michael Kill of the Night Time Industries Association expressed support for the new offence, noting its potential to empower victims and assist law enforcement.