Juliet McGeough shared this photo showing a puncture in her back. It was taken after she visited Revolution in Reading Berkshire.
The’spiking’ database has received 160 reports within nine days. Women are now sharing pictures of injury and puncture wounds from being’spiked’ at bars or clubs during the night.
Elysia Olney and Della Claydon from Wakefield created the Spike Report public database. This was to aid people in finding unsafe places amid recent spikes by injection.
Spike Report, which was launched nine days ago, has been contacted 160 times by people reporting drink spikes and injections at Leeds and other UK cities. There have also been cases in Austria.
It has been viewed more than 17,000 time, and more are added daily. Spike Report has been contacted by one Newcastle venue to help identify a suspect listed on the site.
Juliet McGeough, who recently shared a photograph of a punctured wound (a common wound associated with injection-spiking) on her Facebook page after attending Revolution in Reading.
Another student in Swansea – Kacey Edgar-Hedges, 18 – says she felt a ‘pin-prick’ in her arm in Fiction nightclub shortly before she was rushed to hospital after her limbs went numb and she started shaking.
The incident is being investigated by Thames Valley Police. South Wales Police stated that they have received reports about similar incidents of “spiking” over the last few weeks. Both are under investigation.
According to the National Police Chiefs Council, there were approximately 200 cases of spikes in different parts of the UK between September and October.
The campaign group Girls Night In is calling for boycotts of clubs in order to better protect women against the crime.
Kacey E. Hedges (left, and right) with friends. Kacey said that she felt an ‘in-pin-prick in her arm’ at Fiction nightclub before she was taken to hospital. After her legs went numb, she began shaking.
Revolution in Reading, Berkshire, where Juliet McGeough says she was spiked
Victims were violently ill and discovered they’d been inject when they noticed ‘pin pricks’ on their bodies.
24-year old Miss O’Neill stated that they had created a blog post with all kinds of policy changes the Government and venues should implement. One such thing was a public viewable database with spike incident data, so people are kept informed.
“A few more days passed and we agreed to do so.
Spiking can be a common problem because the host doesn’t treat it as serious. That has a knock-on effect and only 10% of spiked people report it to police.
“There is a problem of people believing they are not being believed, or being taken seriously. For the Spike Report be used to help people legitimize what actually happened it is huge.
“We have received feedback from people saying, Thank you! I feel like I was listened to.”
Miss Claydon added, “We will conduct a focus group in which we will ask people to describe what makes them feel secure so that the portfolio comes from people with different experiences across the country.
“We’ll then combine that and return to them with the question, “What do you think about this ”.’?”
In a Facebook post, Miss McGeough said: ‘Last night (November 6) I went to Revolution in Reading and was spiked through my back.
“Just thought that I would make everyone aware of this happening in Reading. The police are well aware of the issue and have taken action to address it. This is a scary situation.
Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said that the incident had been reported. The investigation continues and anyone with any details should call 101, reference 43210503124.
It comes as Miss Edgar-Hedges was rushed to hospital after she felt a ‘sharp pain, like a pinch’ on the inside of her upper right arm while out with friends in Swansea’s Fiction nightclub on October 21.
Already more than 130,000 people have signed a petition to require nightclubs and bars to search all guests upon entry.
Swansea University’s first-year student stated that the incident made her feel ‘extremely anxious about going out’. She suspects she was given an injection in the club.
Miss Edgar-Hedges said: ‘It took me about three days after the spiking to get a good nights sleep.
I felt very scared and vulnerable, so I didn’t want my mind to go to sleep just in case something happened.
“I have been anxious about going out since this incident, and it is something that I am learning how to manage.
“Fortunately, my circle of friends has been supportive and patient with us, and have gone out of their way for me to feel safe.”
To prevent such incidents, she has asked bars and nightclubs for stricter entry controls.
She stated that clubs need to be more aware of the restrictions and checks they are subject to because there isn’t enough.
“Bag searches and checks should be done on both genders. Even minor checks can save many from such things happening.
Swansea Fiction club issued a statement declaring that new measures have been taken to combat the problem.
According to a spokesperson, “Everyone should feel secure on a night out. And they should feel comfortable in our club.”
“We are the most tightly regulated sector of hospitality; we strive to make our guests feel comfortable and have a safe and welcoming environment. We will protect your right to a great night out.
“While such incidents are extremely rare, we take every report of drink spiking seriously.
“Our teams have been fully trained and supported by our on-site medics. We operate the We Care policy and the Ask Angela scheme.
“We offer anti-spiking devices for all our guests. We also conduct 100 percent searches upon entry. This includes metal detector arches and ID scanners.
“We have CCTV coverage of the entire venue. Our security guards wear bodycams. If necessary, we will give footage to the police. Anybody suspected of spying will be taken into custody and turned over to police.
We encourage anybody who observes unusual behaviour or suspects being a victim in spiking to get immediate help from staff members or security. These people are well trained and have access to our on-site first aiders.
“We also urge them to get in touch with police for medical advice. This will ensure that all allegations can be thoroughly investigated.
Jenny Gilmer, Assistant Chief Constable said that the South Wales Police was aware of concerns about reports of spikes in cities and towns across the UK. Spiking refers to when someone drinks alcohol or other drugs without their permission.
“There are also concerns about the possibility of people being’spiked’ by needles and syringes that contain drugs.
“We received several reports that this may have been an unfortunate event and are investigating.
“The 9 reports include the individual reporting feeling pin-pricks, soreness, or a mark on the arm.
“Our officers have been working with licensees to inform them of spiking and to ask them to be even more alert. All reports are taken seriously. We encourage any victim to contact us if they believe that they were a victim of spiking.
“South Wales Police has a strong history of working together and provides training to city center licensed staff to assist them in identifying and protecting vulnerable individuals. We regularly witness examples where such training is paying off.”
Recent weeks have seen an increase in reports of people injecting themselves. University of Reading Chiefs last month warned that spikers could face expulsion if found drugging students at clubs.
The university received several reports about spiking in the campus and that some students had suffered puncture wounds.