London, Nov 25 || British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced that spiking will be made a criminal offence in the country.
"My government was elected to take back our streets, central to this mission is making sure women and girls can feel safe at night. Perpetrators of spiking will feel the full force of the law," Starmer posted on X ahead of a meeting with police chiefs, industry executives and transport bosses called to Downing Street to crack down on spiking and protect women and girls.
The incidents of spiking, through drinks or other means, have been rising in the United Kingdom and Monday's meeting comes just weeks before Christmas when violence against women and girls is known to rise.
The Labour government believes that its decision to make spiking a new criminal offence will send a clear signal to the perpetrators and empower victims to report offences.
Starmer is expected to demand coordinated action across the police, transport network and venues to stamp out the "cowardly act", including by training thousands of staff working in the nighttime economy on how to spot and tackle spiking.