Drug-spiking reports rise fivefold but proportion leading to charges fall

Almost 20,000 reports of spiking have been received in the past five years by 39 police forces, according to Freedom of Information requests. Photograph: Chris Rout/Alamy

Drug-spiking incidents reported to the police have increased five-fold in five years, yet the proportion leading to a criminal charge is falling, freedom of information (FoI) requests show.

Almost 20,000 reports of spiking were received in the past five years by 39 police forces that responded to FoI requests sent out by Channel 4 for a documentary.