Nighttime economy safety charity, SafetyNet, has worked with Guernsey Police to produce a support guide for victims of spiking.

The guide explains the various options for reporting suspected spiking in Guernsey, what tests can be done and what services - separate from law enforcement - are available.

Islanders can view the guide online or pick up a copy from parish Douzaines, Pingquay, and the police station.

SafetyNet Chair, Poppy Murray, says the charity receives a lot of messages about suspected spiking incidents.

“SafetyNet receives more messages about suspected spiking than sexual assault and harassment combined.

"This includes reports from parents and husbands, wives whose children or partners have ended up in hospital from their symptoms."

Guernsey Police has received 107 reports of spiking since 2019, 17 in 2024 so far.

However, there have been no confirmed cases of spiking from these reports.

Ms Murray explains why this may be the case.

"It is extremely unlikely that Guernsey is the only country in the world where spiking has never happened.

"We think it is much more likely that spiking is difficult to prove in Guernsey, as it is in the UK and Jersey also."

Ms Murray says the guide aims to knock down some reporting barriers.

"We've had messages in the past about people who didn't want to go to the police, because they knew someone in the police, and didn't they didn't want them to know that this had happened.

"There are a lot of victim-blaming myths.

"And, something we found is the biggest reason, is that people genuinely didn't know how to report - what that process would look like and how long it would take.

"More reports would help us see patterns emerging in the types of suspects and the venues where spiking is allegedly occurring."

"It was really violating"

Simon Allum was in his thirties when he was spiked in St Peter Port.

He advises islanders to be vigilant this Christmas party season.

"It was a dreadful experience, it was really violating, and I was really upset.

"And even the next day, I just couldn't put it together, because I knew what I was drinking, and I wouldn't want anyone else to go through that."

He says it is important victims know there are ways to report anonymously through services like Crimestoppers.

"There is nothing more daunting than check into a police station, it is quite intimidating, and you feel like you have done something wrong whether you have or not.

"There are people listening in... so being able to report spiking anonymously would be a great relief, I would have like to of done that."

"If people don’t come forward to report an offence, we can’t tackle it."

Detective Sergeant, Thomas Lowe, says Guernsey Police were happy to support SafetyNet in creating the guide.

"We investigate every report of suspected spiking with a victim-first approach.

"Although no cases of spiking have ever been confirmed in Guernsey, we follow all lines of enquiry and are led by the evidence in our unbiased investigations.

"Continued reports allow us to build a picture of the type of offending which may be occurring in the community, and generally speaking, if people don’t come forward to report an offence, we can’t tackle it.

"I hope the guide will help encourage continued reporting to the police, who are ready, willing, and able to support the public.”