The “awful crime” of drink spiking is soaring in London – with perpetrators prosecuted in only a tiny number of cases.
Latest figures show the number of “spiking related offences” recorded by the Metropolitan police increased by 23 per cent year-on-year to 2,633 in 2024/25 - almost 220 cases a month.
But in only 84 cases was there a “positive outcome”, such as a person being charged with an offence.
Offences were highest in Westminster (435) – which covers the bulk of the West End - Lambeth (173) and Camden (164).
The total number of spiking offences is up from 2,140 logged by the Met in 2023/24, and from 190 a decade ago – an extraordinary 1,285 per cent increase.
Last year, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said the average age of victims was 26, with women targeted in the large majority of cases.
The latest figures were obtained by Marina Ahmad, a Labour member of the London Assembly and the chair of the assembly police and crime committee.
She used Mayor’s Question Time to raise her concerns with London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan that thousands of victims of spiking were being denied justice.
She said: “Drink spiking typically increases during the winter months. People go out for Christmas drinks, it’s a very sociable time of year.
“Last year, 2,633 incidents were recorded but only 84 have been charged. What is happening to bring justice for the victims in London?”
Sir Sadiq said the Met had specialist teams working to increase the number of people “arrested, charged and prosecuted” for drink spiking.
He compared the situation with an increase in people charged with rape or stalking.
The mayor replied: “This is an awful crime and it’s really important that the police work with various venues to do what they can to prevent this in the first place.
“All of us should be aware what is going on in terms of the behaviour of some predators.
“What we are trying to do is work with venues through the women’s night safety charter to make sure staff are trained up; designing glasses a certain way; having good cameras inside; staff being aware in relation to behaviours and what they can do.
“Separately, we have the London Night Life Taskforce working up a plan in relation to, of course, supporting the night-time economy, but trying to reduce crime and increasing safety, particularly for women, particularly at this time of year.”
“Hopefully over the course of the next year we will see more progress being made. What would be even better would be if we prevented it happening in the first place.”
The Met says there is no specific offence of “spiking” but trawled its records for the allegations likely to include such incidents.
Its data also includes the category of “drink interfered with – spiked”, for which 1,520 incidents were logged in the 2024 calendar year.
However, experts believe the total number of reported incidents may only be a substantial underestimation of the true scale of the problem.
Only three per cent of cases in 2024/25 resulted in a “positive outcome” – the same percentage in previous calendar year, when 60 out of the 2,140 cases resulted in action.
Ms Ahmad also asked the mayor for reassurances that tackling violence against women and girls and domestic abuse would remain top priorities for the Met.
Sir Sadiq said that “darker evenings, busier shopping periods and increased activity in the night-time economy can result in increases in crime”, including burglary, robbery and theft.
He said: “This year the Met has launched a number of co-ordinated operations to keep communities safe or reduce offending during this period.
“In Westminster, the Met are running Operation Baselife, which focuses on tackling theft from the person, retail theft, robbery, violence against women and girls and violence against the person.
“There will also be a significant increase in officers in the West End and St James’ wards, supported by covert teams and officers from the TSG (territorial support group).
“City Hall is also working in partnership with the Met, Home Office and local authorities on the ‘winter of action’ initiative in town centres.”
A “refreshed” strategy on tackling violence against women and girls is due to be published this month, he said.
London serial rapist who drugged victims and filmed attacks faces jail for catalogue of crimes
Rapist who spiked women’s drinks jailed for nine years
Police use new detection technology to crack down on vape spiking
Strangers' Bar in Parliament to reopen with enhanced security after spiking allegation
