The total number of spiking cases reported to police in the UK has quadrupled since 2020, with a notable increase in male victims coming forward. Last year, approximately 9,000 cases were reported, a significant rise from around 2,000 in 2020.
According to data, the proportion of reported spiking incidents where the victim was male has risen steadily since 2021, from around 23 percent to one-third in the past year. While women still constitute the majority of reported victims, with over 5,000 cases last year, the increasing number of men reporting attacks is becoming more prominent. Around 1,000 victims' genders were unspecified in the reports.
Spiking is defined as administering alcohol or drugs to someone without their knowledge or consent, which can occur through drinks, needles, or vapes. While often associated with sexual assault or theft, Police UK states that most spiking attacks do not result in these crimes. However, the act can cause severe distress, emotional harm, and anxiety, and potentially put victims at greater risk of injury, theft, or assault. Officers are reportedly treating these reports with the same seriousness as violent, physical attacks.
It remains unclear why more men are reporting these incidents. However, founders of Spike Aware UK, an organization that raises awareness in schools and universities, have observed a growing interest among young men in learning about spiking and self-protection.
One organization founder, Colin Mackie, whose son died after his drink was spiked, recounted speaking to a man in his mid-thirties who was spiked with a hand stamp while entering a club in Boston during the World Cup. The victim reported having no memory of events after drinking a small amount of liquid, with friends stating he became aggressive and was taken back to his hotel. Mackie noted that men often seek reassurance and struggle to understand why they were targeted, frequently choosing not to report such incidents.
The average age of spiking victims who report their assaults is 27, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). The NPCC also indicated that one in five suspects identified by police last year were female. In a separate case, Adina Mihai was sentenced to 17 years in prison for posing as a sex worker and spiking four men, two of whom died, while stealing their belongings.
A survey by Drinkaware with Anglia Ruskin University found that nearly 90 percent of UK adults believe drinks are spiked to commit sexual assault or rape, with theft being the next most common perceived motivation. However, in 55 percent of spiking cases, no further crime is reported, leaving perpetrators' motivations uncertain. When another crime did occur, women were more likely to be sexually assaulted, while men were more likely to be robbed or blackmailed.
In London, spiking incidents saw an almost 10 percent rise last year. The Metropolitan Police received over 2,700 reports between December 2024 and November 2025, and increased charges by 125 percent compared to the previous year. Despite these efforts, the force acknowledges that only a fraction of cases are ever reported. High-profile spiking cases have surfaced in recent months, including an alleged incident at a House of Commons bar. Presenter Ranvir Singh also shared her experience of being unable to move or hear after her drink was spiked, resulting in no memory of returning home.