VAPE-SPIKING

                                  Met Police tackle spiking across London – from nightclubs to party boats

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Spiking, where substances are surreptitiously introduced into someone’s drink, food, vape or body without consent is a premeditated and invasive crime. 

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the Met received over 2,000 allegations of spiking, around 150 every month – though the true scale of the crime is believed to be higher due to underreporting.

The Metropolitan Police Service is intensifying its efforts to tackle spiking across London, with operations spanning bars, clubs and the capital’s party boats including the use of new vape-spiking equipment. This technology, which has already been used in night clubs, festivals, concerts and schools, allows rapid testing of vapes suspected to contain drugs such as THC or Spice. This is a growing concern for police after reports of vapes being tampered with, often shared between young people or handed out in social settings. In some cases, use of a spiked vape has led to hospitalisation.

Alongside this, the Met is assessing a range of different mobile drug testing equipment, which assist rapid drug identification - including near infra-red detectors that can quickly test a wide range of powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs, supported by a mobile phone app.

This is part of the Met’s improved approach to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) by using innovative technologies and tactics to secure justice for victims. Innovation is improving outcomes for victims and making London safer for women and girls, with the charge rate for VAWG offences tripling in the last three years.

The Met Units are leading Operations, working in collaboration with the Met’s licensing teams, drugs dogs, safer transport, and central Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team. The operation focuses on party boats, which are popular with students during Freshers’ Week.

Officers are also conducting safety checks, engaging with partygoers, and using specialist vape spiking detection equipment – unique technology that enables rapid testing of vapes suspected to contain drugs. This is part of a wider toolkit officers are trailing, including early evidence kits for drink and drug testing.

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Precautions and Advice

Signs and Symptoms of Spiking

Symptoms can be similar to being excessively drunk and will vary depending on the substance used, the dosage, and the individual. Look out for a sudden and unexpected deterioration in well-being, including:

What to Do if You Suspect Spiking

Own your vape, trust your instinct, stay together…

Be safe, party safe!!