University students boycott nightclubs after surge in spiking incidents
Last week university students around the country boycott nightclubs following a rise in reports of spiking incidents happening inside them.
The ‘Girls Night In’ campaign was set up through Instagram with the mission of encouraging nighclubs to increase their security measures. The campaign is a response to viral posts on social media by young people that have detailed their experiences of being spiked, either through drink spiking, or increasingly by injection from a needle.
The campaign has, however, received some criticism. Mair Howells, founder of the campaign group ‘I’ve Been Spiked’, described the ‘Girls Night In’ campaign as “pretty backwards.” Howells told The Independent, “I don’t believe it is the right solution. I don’t believe as women we should be made to stay indoors.”
Young people have detailed their experiences of being spiked, either through drink spiking, or increasingly by injection from a needle.
Hannah Thomson, a former student from Glasgow, carried out a different approach to the Instagram campaign by launching a petition to “Make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry.” The petition has received over 150,000 signatures, meaning it will get considered by parliament for a debate.
Exeter student Charlie Carter was interviewed by BBC Spotlight about her experience with having her drink spiked at a local club. She explained in the interview about how she was “found unconscious in the toilets by her best friend.” The University of Exeter has responded by making spiking detection kits available for collection from first year halls receptions, the Estate Patrol Office in Northcote House, the Ram bar, the Sports Park, and the St Lukes SID desk.
Editor: Orla Mackinnon