Students are being warned to be alert when out socialising as universities welcome new intakes for freshers week. St John Ambulance, which offers support in a number of busy university towns on Friday and Saturday nights, says the number of spikings and suspected spikings they are called to deal with is on the increase.
Mike Perkins, the organisation's district community response lead in Leicester, said: “University is often the first time most people have lived away from home and can often be the first time many have gone out too.
"We want everyone to have an amazing time but to look out for one another. Friends are really important.”
