Thanks to significant media coverage, Mazan’s rape trial, which has been going on since early September in Avignon, has brought the debate on chemical submission to the forefront in many countries around the world. Whether in a private setting, as this extraordinary court case has revealed, or in a public place, such as bars or nightclubs, there is widespread awareness of this phenomenon of drugging someone without their knowledge in order to abuse them.
The United Kingdom announced on Monday, November 25, the creation of a specific criminal offense to punish the act of pouring drugs into someone’s drink or injecting them by injection.
In reality, “spiking”, as it is called in English, is a crime that is already punishable by up to ten years in prison, but until now it is covered in several laws (drug repression, sexual assault), which complicates the work of the police. police and magistrates.
Train pub staff
“It can be incredibly difficult for victims to report these heinous crimes and it is often very difficult to bring these cases to justice.”acknowledged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, quoted in a press release.
The latter will bring together representatives of the police, nightlife and transport on Monday to ask them to coordinate against this. “cowardly act”and better protect women during nights out. Around 10,000 people working in bars and pubs will also receive training until spring 2025 to learn how to detect this practice, help victims and gather evidence.
The creation of this crime must “encourage victims to report and ensure a strong police response to these heinous crimes”declared the Minister of the Interior, Yvette Cooper.
The Labor government, which came to power in July, promised to halve violence against women and girls within ten years.
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Test your general knowledge with the writing of “Le Monde”
Test your general knowledge with the writing of “Le Monde”
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Between May 2022 and April 2023, police received 6,732 reports of “spikes,” including almost a thousand cases related to stings. But according to a YouGov poll from December 2022, 10% of British women and 5% of British men say they have already been victims. Most cases are not reported due to failure to identify symptoms at the time. And since the body quickly eliminates these medications, it is impossible to provide proof.
