{"id":63775,"date":"2024-05-02T11:42:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T10:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=63775"},"modified":"2024-05-02T11:44:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T10:44:07","slug":"spiking-victim-calls-on-bars-and-venues-to-do-more-to-prevent-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/05\/02\/spiking-victim-calls-on-bars-and-venues-to-do-more-to-prevent-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiking victim calls on bars and venues to do more to prevent crime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lorna Street was just 18 when she was spiked in her hometown of Norwich. She was in a near-empty club, when all of a sudden, she passed out in the toilet, coming in and out of consciousness, with little recollection of the night. She only had one glass of wine. She was then carried out by a security guard, put in a taxi, where she was constantly vomiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until years later that Lorna realised she\u2019d been spiked that night. She said: \u201cIf I’d known at the time what had really happened to me, I would have one hundred percent got myself checked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is why I\u2019m super passionate about it, because even if it happened years ago, it\u2019s still important to recognise that it wasn\u2019t okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorna, who is an ambassador for Stamp Out Spiking<\/a>, used her love for live events and music to spread awareness of the dangers of spiking and what staff at venues can do to prevent it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council<\/a> found that 80% of spiking incidents happen in public places. Almost half of the incidents happened in a bar, with nightclubs being the second most common location.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorna, who became an ambassador in 2021 after being spiked herself, hosted three events and raised over \u00a33,000 for Stamp Out Spiking. With this money, Lorna has educated various venues around Norwich, where she\u2019s from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Live music at an event Lorna hosted in Norwich. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorna said: \u201cA massive thing that\u2019s lacking is education across staff and security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairing up with Eastern Pathology Norfolk<\/a>, a Pathology Department, Stamp Out Spiking spent some of the money on self-test kits so people that have been spiked in Norwich can now go into the walk-in centre and test themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stamp Out Spiking ambassador said: \u201cIt took a lot of work. But I always say to people: \u2018if I\u2019m one person, imagine if there was one of me in every area in the UK doing the same.\u2019 It would make a huge impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s already so much change that has happened. Obviously, not enough, but a lot has happened since I started volunteering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government says<\/a> that soon all security staff who hold a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA)<\/a> will be required to do mandatory spiking training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Home Office<\/a> will also be providing up to \u00a3250,000 of funding for a training programme for night-time economy staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorna, who\u2019s a QC and Customer Rejections Lead, said: \u201cIt should be as important as health and safety training for staff. It should be something that everyone has to do to be able to do the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you work around alcohol, it should be mandatory and I honestly don\u2019t know why it isn\u2019t.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as venues like bars and pubs, festivals have also seen a huge problem with spiking over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorna, who studied at Norwich university, said: \u201cI definitely think anyone working there, whether you\u2019re doing staging or if you\u2019re around alcohol, or people that are drinking, you should have training in how to deal with spiking and how to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Lorna Street. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government offers advice for venues and festival organisers<\/a>, including offering training to all staff on how to recognise spiking and what to do when it happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Association of Independent Festivals<\/a> relaunched its Safer Spaces at Festivals<\/a> campaign in 2022, where it showcases its commitment to tackling sexual violence, harassment, and assault. Over 100 festivals have signed up to the initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most festivals have drug testing tents where festival-goers can test to see if something is potentially dangerous. Many events do this via a third-party, where confiscated drugs or substances are left in amnesty bins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If something potentially dangerous, or stronger than usual is found, a warning will go out.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n