UPSU Anti-Spiking Initiative

The Union should work to prevent spiking and to educate and deter potential spikers.

Throughout our time at University, most students will know of someone that has been spiked. Fortunately, for most, they simply become ill and are taken home by friends, but for some they are kicked out of venues for being ill or are left alone and vulnerable to worse outcomes. The Union should be doing everything it can to educate and empower students who may fall victim to this act to prevent it and to attempt to deter people who may potentially carry it out.

Recently, a video emerged on Social Media from a student nightclub in Bristol that allegedly depicted someone being spiked on camera. This brazen act was carried out so nonchalantly and should never be allowed to happen in a space that is supposed to be safe for students. It also later emerged that this was allegedly carried out by 2 people who have access to the UWE Campus, this means that this is even more damaging for people living in University communities.

The Union should therefore provide anti-spiking items such as bottle stops, cup covers and testing strips that should be readily available for students to collect. The Union should also work with local partners and late night venues around the city to make sure that they also make these available and that their staff are trained to recognise when people may have been spiked. Finally, the Union should work with the Police and the Council in order to provide literature and educate around how damaging spiking can be and the punishments for doing so to deter this happening.

This was submitted to Have Your Say! after being suggested at the Have Your Say! Board at Freshers' Fayre 2021