As women, we're told by our parents from a young age that we shouldn't walk home alone, most choose to take this advice and eliminate any risks, like getting a taxi home instead of walking. However, the risk is not only in being alone anymore.
*Disclaimer* I'm no expert in politics or anything like that, but I do know how it feels to be a woman.
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| Illustration was kindly designed and created by Jenna Hammersley Hicks (@jenillustrate on Instagram) |
Reports of women being spiked by needle have arisen across the UK – from Nottingham to Edinburgh. Nottinghamshire police are even investigating twelve separate reports of men and women being spiked by a needle within the last two weeks.
My initial thoughts – I felt sick to my stomach. Being spiked by someone slipping drugs in your drink is awful enough. But an injection? Has society really got this sinister?
I got in touch with the awareness Instagram campaign Girls Uncut Leeds to gain some clarity on the situation. Girls Uncut Leeds, in collaboration with Girls Night In have organised a boycott of all Leeds clubs on 27 October. Make a mental note to remember that date. We actually ended up spending a good hour chatting about the entire spiking epidemic.
Starting a conversation
Girls Uncut told me that the purpose of the boycott is to bring attention to the severity of the situation, and encourage venues, and everyone, to take spiking more seriously. Which is fair enough, as I don’t think people truly realise how common spiking is. I recently read an article on The TAB Leeds, which stated that out of the four hundred students they asked, 58% knew someone who had been spiked in Leeds. While at University, Leeds is a city I used to go out in all the time, so seeing this statistic breaks my heart as I never once considered the city as "dangerous".
Not only this, but spiking via the means of a needle is extremely dangerous. Reusing needles can put individuals at risk of contracting HIV/Aids which can have life-long consequences.
We know that men get spiked, that's a fact. But, when you think about the image that’s conjured up when you think about spiking, most of the time the perpetrator is a male and the victim is a female. Girls Uncut (and most of us) would like to see this dynamic changed as this is not a problem which exclusively effects women. They told me the response that came through on the account was really varied. There were people of all genders who were coming forward and saying that they have had experience with spiking in the past.
It does make me think, what is actually being done about all this? Does this story go further than a newspaper headline? There is currently no coherent protocol in place for individuals who think they may have been spiked in the club. Some Leeds venues have responded by installing additional CCTV, training bouncers, and offering free drink lids. But is this enough? Personally I’d like to see all drinks have lids, bag searches, and pat-down checks on entry to clubs. Even this cannot ensure that needles aren't carried into clubs.
Women want to feel safe. I was going to add an ‘again’ to the end of that statement, but quite frankly, we’ve never had the luxury of feeling safe in the first place.
Resources you might find helpful if you, or someone you know, has ever been spiked.
The basics on drink spiking and date rape drugs
NHS - What should I do if I am attacked with a dirty needle?