The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), the UK-based body for security managers in Higher and Further Education (HFE), has announced a partnership with Stamp Out Spiking, the UK’s charity dedicated to ending drink spiking. Ausco points to figures from Anglia Ruskin University (2024) on the scale of the problem:
- 90 per cent of people don’t contact the police after being spiked and around half of those said it’s because they ‘don’t see the point.’
- 2.2pc of UK adults reported having had their drinks spiked in the 12 months leading up to the survey, which equates to around 1.2 million UK adults.
- 11pc of UK adults reported being spiked at some point in their lives – 13pc of females think they have previously been a victim of drink spiking and 9pc of males.
- LGBTQ+ adults are disproportionately affected. Gender and sexual minorities are significantly more likely to report having ever been a victim of drink spiking (18pc versus 11pc; 2022) heterosexual individuals.
- In 2023, more incidents of drink spiking occurred in bars (41pc) and clubs (28pc) than anywhere else. However, 9pc reported being a victim in a private home.
- 14pcof respondents who thought their drink had been spiked reported that the incident resulted in physical or mental health issues.
Through this partnership, AUCSO members will gain a 20pc discount on Executive Membership with Stamp Out Spiking, unlocking benefits to help institutions safeguard students. These include access to discounted training, safeguarding resources, and tools such as awareness posters for venues and public spaces, incident checklists, quick action flow charts, and quarterly updates on regional crime prevention.
What they say
Dawn Dines, CEO and Founder of Stamp Out Spiking, pictured, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with AUCSO to give members discounted access to our Executive Membership. By joining us, they not only strengthen safeguarding within their institutions but also help us support victims, the public, and grassroots organisations such as Street Pastors and victim support services.
And Julie Barker, COO of AUCSO, added: “Keeping students safe and supported is at the heart of what our members do. Spiking remains a very real concern for universities and colleges, and by partnering with Stamp Out Spiking we can provide our members with the resources, training and confidence to respond swiftly and effectively. This partnership underlines AUCSO’s commitment to working with expert organisations to ensure student wellbeing and safety remain top priorities.
“This collaboration marks a significant step forward in equipping our member universities and colleges with the knowledge and tools to better protect their students, tackle spiking incidents, and raise awareness nationwide, and internationally.”
