Convictions for drink spiking 'shockingly low'

The Scottish Government has been urged to make spiking a standalone offence, as figures show that only four convictions have been recorded since 2021.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that there were 47 charges reported to the Crown Office over the last four years, with only four ending in conviction.

17 resulted in no conviction, one resulted in no action, and ten remain ongoing.

The Scottish Conservatives have urged the SNP to ensure that those who commit this crime feel the full force of the law.

Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims and community safety, Sharon Dowey MSP, said: “There have been hundreds of reports of drink spiking across Scotland, but these shocking figures lay bare how badly victims are being failed.

“The Scottish Conservatives have been calling for drink spiking to be made a specific offence for years, but the SNP have repeatedly turned a blind eye to these calls.

“These stats should be a wake-up call for Nationalist ministers to finally show that they take this crime seriously, because the existing legislation is confusing and letting down victims.

“Scotland is at real risk of being left behind now that the law in England is rightly being changed.

“Scots enjoying the festive season deserve the reassurance of knowing that drink-spiking offenders will feel the full force of the law.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Spiking can be prosecuted under the common law offence of drugging, which is a broad offence covering all types of drink spiking.

“Another common law offence which may be relevant, depending on the individual facts and circumstances of each case, is assault. There is also a more specific statutory offence contained in section 11 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 alled administering a substance for sexual purposes.

“We have no plans at this time to create a specific criminal offence of spiking, however we keep all laws under review.”