“I am actually terrified of going out at the moment” Jess Short, a student of Bournemouth University shared.
A recent wave of spiking has spread through UK nightclubs as a growing number of women have found themselves victims of a new spiking epidemic, with multiple women reporting to have found themselves with needle marks after being injected with ‘date-rape’ and recreational drugs.
Several women in cities throughout the country, including Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds, have recounted the horrific side effects they experienced. Sarah Buckle, a second-year student at Nottingham University, told Sky news that she was “falling in and out of consciousness” and had no recollection of the night’s events.
Not alone, nearly 200 women like Sarah have reported incidents of spiking in the last two months, according to a recent report by the National Police Chiefs council. But with many women, and men, taking to social media to share their stories and stand in solidarity, it is clear that the issue is much more widespread than official statistics would suggest. This begs the question of why? Has the possibility of being spiked become so ingrained into us, that it has become expected and even normalised, an accepted risk of a night out.
Social media has become flooded with brightly coloured infographics, detailing methods of spiking prevention and what to do if you are, each repost signalling the growing anxiety for women nationally. It is not hard to see the fear and anger that has been stirred amongst women across the country.
There is a sense of sadness too, a disappointment that these are the measures we must take to stay safe, yet still knowing that safety isn’t guaranteed. The constant feeling of responsibility for their own wellbeing, whilst also having no autonomy over their bodies is intensifying amongst many women, and as the use of injections appears to become more common, it is unclear what preventions women must take to avoid spiking.
In response, Edinburgh University student, Martha Williams, created the first #GIRLS NIGHT IN Instagram page on the 17th October, kickstarting a national campaign. Encouraging women, and allies to stay at home in protest, refocusing the attention on nightclubs and their responsibility to keep patrons safe. It aims to motivate club owners to take accountability and enforce new safety measures to prevent further spiking, refusing to attend until action is taken.
(Photo by Sophie Harris)
Instagram pages for the campaign have begun across the UK, including here in Bournemouth, who’s campaign leaders opted for the 27th October to stage the stay at home protest. Sharing their first post on the 18th October, the account has now garnered over 2,500 followers. Receiving support from Bournemouth University’s Student Union, the campaign has gained momentous support.
Having seen the movement, local Bournemouth club ‘Cameo’ have responded by implementing new safety measures which have been applauded by students on social media. Wallet, bag and body searches have been introduced and entry is now only possible with a valid ticket purchased online, making identification easier. Plastic cups with lids and straws are also now available upon request at the bar, aiming to make drink spiking more difficult. Calls for other venues to take a similar approach are being made as the spiking crisis continues, while some are sharing their concern that precautions will become less strict once the social media train loses momentum.
However, the #GIRLS NIGHT IN campaign have also acknowledged that nightclubs can only do so much and change must be enforced by the government. A petition has been created alongside the hashtag, demanding that the government ‘Make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry’. The petition suggests either full body searches or scanners must be used in nightclubs in order to protect the public and has now reached nearly 170,000 signatures, well over the amount necessary to have a parliamentary debate.
Though the demand is high, this crisis does not appear to be a priority to the government who, at the time of writing, are yet to issue an official statement. Only the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has commented on the matter, requesting that the police give urgent updates on the unfolding situation.
As fear grows and the struggle continues, the future for women’s safety in nightclubs is uncertain but the hope that changes will be made at law level remains. While women across the country protest for our right to take ownership of our bodies, I am reminded of the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama, “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish”.
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