Free anti-spiking kits are being distributed in Carlisle's city centre as part of a new initiative to ensure safety during night outs in Cumbria.

Advice relating to spiking will also be offered by police and partners.

Staff at the multi-agency Safer Streets Welfare Hub, which provides guidance and support to party-goers in Carlisle, aims to curb the incidence of drink spiking.

Officers from Cumbria Police have purchased extra anti-spiking kits with Home Office funding, to be handed out to the public from Saturday.

The kits will be given by police, Cumberland Council Safer Streets Officers, and volunteers from the University of Cumbria.

The kits can be collected from the Safer Streets Welfare Hub at Court Square, located close to the city's nightlife hotspots.

In a further attempt to address the issue, police presence will be increased across the county, with officers trained to identify potential offenders targeting vulnerable people emerging from pubs, clubs, taxi ranks, and takeaways.

Detective Inspector Mike Taylor, the Cumbria Police dedicated operational detective inspector overseeing work on the issue of Violence Against Women and Girls, said: "Our Neighbourhood Policing Team in Carlisle, the Safer Streets Officers from Cumberland Council and the University of Cumbria are out all-year round in the welfare hub during our busiest times in the night-time economy.

“They do a fantastic job of helping anyone on a night out who feels vulnerable or unsafe or just has some concerns they want to speak to people about.

“We recently bid for, and received some extra funding from the Home Office, which has enabled us to increase our investment into supplies of anti-spiking products, and safety information merchandise to be handed out to people on a night out, around the county.

“This funding will also be used to roll-out this type of help through a similar Safer Streets Welfare Hub to be used in the Westmorland and Furness area.”

The anti-spiking kits comprise drink protectors, a cover for drinks through which a straw can fit, and testing strips.

DI Taylor said: “Alongside this we will be increasing patrols as part of our ongoing Operation Vigilant.

“This is a uniformed street patrol campaign to assist vulnerable people and identify potential opportunistic offenders in the night-time economy.

“It focusses on having uniformed patrols within areas of the night-time economy identified as hot spots where violence against women and girls may take place.

“Cumbria is a safe place to live – and we have a much lower number of these types of spiking offences than many other places. But we do receive reports here."

Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing. This could be done via drink spiking, needle spiking, vape or cigarette spiking, food spiking, or by giving someone more alcohol drugs than they were expecting or consented to.

It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and be carried out by strangers or by people you know.

DI Taylor said: “Most cases of spiking don’t lead to sexual assault or theft.

“But spiking can cause severe distress, emotional harm and anxiety. It can take a long time to recover from someone spiking you.

“Victims can be male as well as female – but women are predominantly more likely to be targeted."

DI Taylor stressed the significance of reporting such offences, explaining that some drugs could leave the body within hours, so testing is better done sooner than later.

He said: "We would also like to know about any spiking incident, no matter how long ago it happened.

“Our main concern is to make sure the victim gets the support they need. Once the victim is well enough, we are here to support and investigate.

“One of the main points we would make to victims is: You are not to blame. This is never the fault of the victim.

“Sometimes people are afraid to speak to the police, perhaps thinking no one will believe them.

“You can tell us about spiking even if you don't want to go through with forensic testing and an investigation.

“No matter who you are, how long ago the spiking happened or what took place, our prime concern is to give you the support you need.”

Iain Stainton, principal lecturer, criminology, policing, law and security, at the University of Cumbria, said: "Several of our students have completed significant training to become Safer Streets volunteers, working at the night-time welfare hub in Carlisle.

"This voluntary role allows our students the opportunity to make a real contribution to the community in which they live and study, supporting an important collaboration that is providing a safer environment for women and girls."

It is advised not to accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended.

Symptoms of spiking can vary, however, if you start to feel strange or more drunk than you thought you should be, seek help straight away. If you feel seriously unwell, call 999 or ask someone to get you emergency medical assistance.

You can report attempted spiking to police, where a spiking attempt was disrupted before anyone became a victim. For example:

  • If a drink has an unexpected smell, taste or colour.
  • If you notice a tablet or powder in a drink.
  • If you see someone trying to spike a drink.
  • If someone tried to inject you with drugs but failed.
  • If you notice someone behaving suspiciously around a group they clearly don’t know, you can tell security or a member of staff, or report to police.

Spiking can be reported by calling 101 or by going to the Cumbria Police website.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.