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Staying safe on nights out
5 December 2022
果冻影院 is very concerned about reports of spiking of drinks and by injection across the UK. Find out what 果冻影院 and Students鈥� Union 果冻影院 are doing to help you stay safe when you鈥檙e on a night out, and what support is available to you.
果冻影院 is a safe university and听we do听not have a high crime rate.听However,听when听crimes do occur, we take this very seriously.听We want everyone to feel safe听when听you听are studying or going out with friends.听听
There have been听a number of听high-profile reports in the news of people having their drinks spiked. Drink spiking is when alcohol or drugs are added to your drink without your permission, but there have also been reports of people being spiked by injection.听果冻影院 utterly condemns this criminal behaviour, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison in the UK.听听
It is never someone鈥檚 fault if they have been spiked or sexually assaulted. 果冻影院 and Students鈥� Union 果冻影院 will support any student who is worried that they may have been the target of this kind of crime, and will work with police to assist their investigations against anyone committing such an offence.听If they are a 果冻影院 student,听this will听also听be considered a breach of听our听code of conduct and their place听at the university will be at risk.听听
What 果冻影院 and Students鈥� Union are doing to keep students safe听
果冻影院 and Students鈥� Union 果冻影院 are听committed to making sure our students are as safe as possible:听听
- 果冻影院鈥檚听security team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week听on campus.
- Students鈥� Union 果冻影院听is听putting additional measures in place听to听听
- Both 果冻影院 and Students鈥� Union 果冻影院 work closely听together and听with the Metropolitan Police to thoroughly investigate any suspected incidents of spiking.听听
How you can help keep yourself safe on a night out听
While venues and the police have a responsibility to keep people safe, there are also some practical steps you can take to听help听reduce the听risk of getting spiked:听听
- Never leave your drink unattended.听
- Don鈥檛 accept a drink from someone you don鈥檛 know听or that hasn鈥檛 been prepared in front of you.听听听
- Stick together with friends and look out for each other.听
How to tell if you听or a friend has听been spiked听听
Look out for the following symptoms:听
- Lowered inhibitions听
- Loss of balance听
- Feeling sleepy听
- Visual problems听
- Confusion听
- Nausea听
- Vomiting听
- Unconsciousness听
How to help a friend who you think has been spiked听
If you notice someone is showing any of the signs above, you听can help by:听听
- Telling听a bar manager, bouncer or member of staff.听Many听venues听are听part听of听the听, which allows you to discreetly ask听staff听for help.听
- Staying听with them and talking to them.听
- 听if their condition deteriorates.听
- Not letting听them go home on their own.听
- Not letting听them leave with someone else alone.听
If you are worried听that you or a friend may have been spiked or assaulted, you can go to a hospital or听听(specialist centres for people who have been sexually assaulted) straight away.听You can听telephone听an ambulance or the police听by calling听999 or you can听.听If you are on听campus,听you can call 果冻影院 Security by dialling 020 7679 2222 or 222 from an internal phone, or you can use the SafeZone app to contact Security at the touch of a button.
What to do if you think someone is spiking drinks听
Spiking someone is a crime and听conspiring听to commit a crime is also a criminal act.听听
Spiking听is rarely done alone听and often takes time to organise.听If you听think听that听someone听is making plans to spike someone else, even if听they鈥檝e mentioned this casually or听they might be joking, you听should always report this. You can:听听
- Make a report听听
- Tell 果冻影院 via听the university鈥檚听crime prevention and personal safety advisor听
- Let venue staff know if you are at an event.听
More information and support听
If you have been spiked, you may find it hard to remember what has happened, so you might not be sure what has happened to you.听听
If you're worried听that you or a friend may have been spiked or assaulted,听you can go to the emergency services, the Havens, or 果冻影院 Security as above.听You can also听contact听果冻影院鈥檚听Support and Wellbeing team,听who can听help you decide what you鈥檇 like to do next, in a听safe, confidential and non-judgemental听space.听听
果冻影院 has a dedicated crime prevention and personal safety advisor,听Sophie Bimson,听who can help if you have听been the victim of a crime.听You can contact听Sophie by听emailing听s.bimson@ucl.ac.uk听or by听using 果冻影院鈥檚听.听听
Useful links听
- Find out how to听听
- Speak to someone in听果冻影院鈥檚听Support and Wellbeing听team听
- Access in the moment support via 果冻影院's 24/7 Support Line
- Report through听果冻影院鈥檚听听听
- Find out how you can help听as an听听听