How Spiking Happens and How to Stay Safe

On this episode of the Analytical Zen Podcast, we explore a critical and increasingly urgent issue of spiking. While far from new, incidents are rising and the response must evolve just as quickly.

We’re joined by Dawn Dines, Founder and CEO of Stamp Out Spiking, a leading voice in the fight against this growing threat. With over two decades of frontline advocacy, Dawn brings a powerful blend of lived experience, policy influence and tireless campaigning.

From contributing to legislative change through the Police and Crime Bill in the UK to advising government bodies and collaborating with law enforcement, her work is helping to reshape how the UK and beyond responds to spiking.

This conversation goes beyond awareness. It’s about accountability, prevention and what meaningful progress really looks like in protecting people and driving systemic change across society.  It focuses on prevention, stronger accountability mechanisms and systemic change that meaningfully reduces risk and improves protection for individuals in nightlife and public spaces. 

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Background

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Welcome to the Analytical Zen Podcast, where we delve into the minds of leading scientists and professionals exploring forensics, toxicology, medicine, and health in terms of mind, body, and spirit. I'm your host, Geraldine M. Dowling. What should you expect in the Analytical Zen Podcast? Well, we'll dive into cutting-edge research and topics that inspire curiosity, the latest in forensic and clinical toxicology pursuits, and engaging conversations and perspectives from disciplines outside of these fields. We're thrilled to have Dawn Dynes as our guest on the Analytical Zen Podcast today. Dawn Dynes is the founder and CEO of Stamp Out Spiking, the UK's national charity tackling the escalating issue of biking. With over two decades of frontline advocacy, Dawn is a recognized authority on victim safeguarding, public education, and legislative reform. Her campaigning has been instrumental in driving the inclusion of spiking measures in the Police and Crime Bill, currently progressing through Parliament in the UK. Dawn's expertise is sought at the highest levels. She has given evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee in Westminster. She is an active member of the Metropolitan Police and Scottish Police Spiking Roundtables, Home Office Working Groups, and shares key data on spiking crimes across the globe with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on International Travel Safety and is an active member of their Travel Aware programme. Earlier last year, she visited Boston, meeting with the Boston Police Department and Senator Paul Feeney to share best practices approaches. Don was invited to the government offices in Prague to give expert evidence on her global work. Dawn also visited Berlin at the Future of Festivals Conference on an expert panel of how spiking is affecting festivalgoers across Europe. In the UK, Stamp Out Spiking held the first Westminster Roundtable, a landmark national event fostering collaboration across policing, licensing, hospitality, transport and government sectors. In partnership with Bower Media, Don has led two national awareness campaigns, one called If Only, a Spiked Drink Looks Like This, and the second, Keep an Eye Out, launched at Reading and Leeds Festivals. Through Stamp Out Spiking, Dawn partners with police forces, government bodies, rail and taxi companies, and industry leaders to deliver accredited training, promote prevention tools, and drive systemic change, putting safety at the heart of public venues and events. Welcome, Dawn, to the Analytical Zen Podcast. Thank you very much for having me on, Geraldine. It's an absolute pleasure to have you, Dawn. Dawn, what moment led you to start Stamp Out Spiking?

SPEAKER_01 3:20

Do you? From when I was a youngster, when my mum and dad always used to say to me, you know, always be careful of anybody that's being too generous, and if anybody keeps offering to buy you a drink, always go to the bar and watch it being poured. And then suddenly I booked to go on a round-the-world trip in 1989. Yeah, I think probably being an only child, that I was loved, like, you know, we were a really tight-knit family group. And when I told my mum and dad, like I'm booking this round-the-world ticket, they were in a bit of a two and eight to say the least, saying, Oh, you know, who you going with? And I was like, I'm going on my own. And so, and I think that it made me a bit more perceptive of what was going on around me because I wasn't just looking after myself, I also had the like my mum and dad's lives that I was looking out for as well. So this led me on to a bit, a bit of a safeguarding mission, to be honest.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

So done, what happened?

SPEAKER_01 4:31

I've always sort of known to be aware of people being like too over-friendly or over-generous and buying lots of drinks, and you know, is there a reason why they're being like that or acting like that? And when I got to Australia, um, some gentleman kept asking me to go out for a drink with him. And after a few months, I decided I would go out. So we went out for a meal rather than for some drinks. And when we got to the table, we ordered some wine and um we poured the drinks, and I went to use the bathroom and I'd forgotten my bag. And when I came back to the table, his hand was hovering like over my drink and it moved really quickly, and all the hairs on the back of my neck went up. And I thought, he's done something to my drink. Anyway, I like grabbed my bag and I went to the bathroom, and all the time I was in there, I was thinking, when I go back to the table, I'm gonna swap those drinks, do like a James Bond style, but I didn't. I actually climbed out of a little window that I could hardly fit through, and I ran for my life. And do you know what, Geraldine? My suspicions were confirmed because that guy never came back in to see me. He never came in to where I worked and said, you know, why would you leave me there like an idiot waiting for you in a restaurant? So that then has really led me onto a lifetime of trying to warn people that these horrible crimes are taking place and they're taking place on a global scale.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Do you know, Don? That's an unbelievable story. And the personal element really makes me and the listeners understand why it is you do what you do, because what we like to see in our side of things is it's a more than a lucky escape.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

Yeah. And it was a reason that you are so clued in to actually just get out of there, you know.

A Second Spiking That Confirmed Fears

SPEAKER_01 6:28

I know. Yeah. Oh, do you know what, Geraldine? That years later, a friend and I did get spiked in Mexico, and yeah, a tray of drinks got sent over to us, and we drank most of the drink, and then I caught a look in the waiter's eye, and I was like, Oh my god, they've done something to our drinks. And so I grabbed my friend. This is lunchtime in a restaurant, and um, I threw some money down. We held down a cab, and when we were going back to our apartment, we got there, and as we were walking up the stairs, our legs were so heavy, we got into our apartment. Thank goodness. And do you know what? We were out cold for over 30 hours. So, whatever drugs they put in our system, number one, they could have killed us. Number two, we could have, oh, I just dread the thought of what can happen. Like, you know, you hear terrible stories about people being put to work in the sex trade, like human trafficking and all these terrible things that that are happening. And I just thank God that we just got in safe. So uh, and that's why I've I'm just so aware of what's going on on a global scale, and that's why I always want to warn men and women to be so aware of people being over-familiar, like too generous. Uh, just you know, when your mum and dad say to you when you're young, if something's too good to be true, it normally is, and and they're right.

What Spiking Reports Look Like

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Wow, Don, very interesting. And what does a typical spiking incident look like from the messages you've received?

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Well, over all of these years that I've been campaigning, I've spoken to hundreds of male and female victims, and to be honest with you, there is no typical sort of story, but most of the crimes from the people that we've spoken to have happened when they're out in the hospitality industry. So either they're in a restaurant, in a club, in a bar, and it's always seems to be where there's quite a few people around. And mind you saying that, we have had quite a few reports from house parties as well, because you know, as we know, when you go out, we've also got the luxury of hopefully there's security working on the door, there's also CCTV. So we're always trying to make sure that people are covering their drinks, making sure that they're, you know, whoever's at the party, that that that you trust someone really implicitly, if they're going to be pouring the drinks for you.

Myths And The Testing Time Window

SPEAKER_00 9:08

And on what are the biggest myths you want to retire about spiking and testing?

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Well, I suppose the biggest myths that we always get confronted with are, you know, these crimes always seem to be happening to 18 to 24-year-olds, where that's not actually the case. Like spiking can happen to anyone at any time, at any place. We've had reports of people as old as 89 years old get spiked. Um, another sort of myth is that it only happens to females, where from the testimonials that we receive, I'd say it's probably 60, 40 females being the highest number. So, as you can tell, this doesn't just happen to women aged between 18 to 24 years old. And the testing, this is such a gray area, it really is, because a lot of the victims I speak to, if they're out, just say, for example, it's like on a Saturday night, and they've gone out, you know, to a nightclub, they've unfortunately got spiked, they get taken off to the hospital, the police are called. Now, because everybody seems to be so under-resourced these days, the police may not turn up to the victim's house maybe till like Tuesday lunchtime. And in that time, unfortunately, some of these date rape drugs that are used in these in these invisible crimes, you know, they can go out of your system as quickly as six hours. So, as you can tell, like the testing is imperative for us to be able to start gaining convictions on these crimes. So, something needs to give. We need to work on this gray area to make sure that we can be gaining samples in an in a mannerly time to be able to start gaining convictions of these crimes.

Venue Protocols That Help Tonight

SPEAKER_00 11:11

And in your opinion, what simple protocol should every venue have in place tonight?

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Well, first of all, you know, let's put some signs up in the in the toilets and if they've got any screens that were where we could share digital assets so that people are aware that these sort of crimes take place. And, you know, I've spoken to some venues over the years, and they've said, oh, we really don't want to put signs like that up. People would think that spiking goes on here. And I'm like, well, you're warning people, not just for here, but for any time during their evening out. And surely it's much better to show that you're upsized with these perpetrators, that you know that they're targeting different pubs and clubs and cricket matches or football matches, or you know, we've even had reports at funerals and weddings. So, like I said, these crimes can happen anywhere at any time. So, wouldn't it be amazing if you went to the bathroom and it said, like, you know, please be aware, sticking a double in somebody's drink is also a form of spiking. So it would just be giving subtle little messages to make sure that people know if you're going to buy somebody a double Jack Daniels or a double Vodka and Coke, please tell them that you're being kind and buying them a double, um, and that it's not for any other reason. And let's have these posters up in the bathroom so that people are aware that spiking incidents are taking place because awareness is key, and of course, education is key. So if there is any way that we could train bar staff, door security, basically front of house, anybody who works in the day or the nighttime economy, if they could have a really good understanding of how spiking is taking place and how to take care of somebody if they do get spiked, then we're halfway there to protecting all our communities against these horrid crimes.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

And on for universities and student unions, what's the one change that would make the fastest difference?

Student Safety And Drink Covers

What Police And A&E Need

SPEAKER_01 13:27

I really think with universities, again, this education is paramount. You know, like surely when the pressures are coming through, we should be giving warnings to them about these crimes that are taking place. We know that it's a really vulnerable time for young people. The actual universities themselves, I mean, we work with quite a few universities across the UK now, and we supply stop tops, which are like a sticky piece of foil, really, that will go over a bottle or a can, and you can stick a straw through it, and that will easily cover somebody's drink against an opportunist from slipping something in there. There's also something called a spiky, which can go on top of a bottle, or a nightcap, which is like a scrunchie that you can ladies can wear around their wrists and then cover their drink with it. So it's just making sure that we give every possible opportunity to safeguard um all of the students. And, you know, the best thing to do is not stick, brush it all under the carpet as if it never happens. Let's make sure that we've we're having these discussions, especially with the young students, first time being away from home. You know, it's so important that they're aware that these sorts of crimes are taking place.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

And Don, what do you wish AE and police teams understood better about spiking cases?

SPEAKER_01 15:00

Oh, I suppose really it's the small window that we've got to gain the evidence. And again, you know, we know that police forces are under resourced. So I think it's really a matter of us trying to educate the general public, trying to educate our police forces, trying to work with the NHS, with the emergency departments, like it's that same old thing. It always feels like Geraldine that working in collaboration is key. It's a really easy statement to say, but a really hard, difficult job to do. So, you know, collaboration is key. If we could have all these conversations and have all the partners in one room at the same time, and then work out who needs to be making these major decisions, then I'm sure by working together, we'll start to see some convictions from these from these crimes.

How Listeners Can Support Change

SPEAKER_00 16:04

And John, if listeners want to help today, what's their most useful action?

Why Victims Must Be Believed

SPEAKER_01 16:08

The most useful action for us would be to get involved, become a member of Stamp Out Spiking. Um, we can train you, you can then go and speak to your local pubs or nightclubs, you could go to your university, your local college, you could ask them what they're doing about it, you could entice them to become members of Stamp Out Spiking. The more that we can share all of our data and we can understand that spiking doesn't just happen in drinks now, it's happening in vapes and you know, all the key learnings that we need to share. It would be amazing if the general public would start donating, even if it's only a pound a year, that pound would make a massive difference to a small charity like ours. And as lots of people always say to me, you know, one person can't change everything, but everyone can help one person to change everything. And and I think that would be the key takeaway that we could ask for your listeners to try and help us here at Stamp House Spiking.

SPEAKER_00 17:17

And John, what's one myth you'd like to raise?

SPEAKER_01 17:20

I think for me it's the oh, do you know what? For so many years we kept hearing that people were accused of having too much to drink. And I'm hoping now, with all of the education and the two national campaigns that that we've got going across the UK the last couple of years, that we're not going to be hearing this anymore. Oh, they just had too much to drink, because it's so difficult as a victim of a spiking incident, like you've gone for a night out, you've gone out to enjoy yourself and to have fun, and then suddenly somebody put mind-rendering drugs into your system, and then afterwards people say, So what happened? Where did you go? What happened to you? And of course, you don't know because your memory's been erased by the drugs that they put into your system. So I understand from the police's point of view that it's very difficult because how can you get evidence if the the victims left with no memory because the perpetrator has put the drugs in their system? But now that that awareness is so much more, you know, we just don't want victims not to be believed. So if somebody believes they've had their drink spiked, if they've if their memory's been wiped and they can't remember what's happened to them and they've had no alcohol or very little alcohol, then please always trust what they've said and act in the correct manner so we can start gaining convictions.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

And Don, what's one habit anyone can adopt on a night out?

SPEAKER_01 18:57

Well, I'm gonna split that into two, Geraldine. First of all, if there's a group of you going out, we always recommend to have someone on what we call shark watch. So you've got somebody either who's a designated driver, somebody who's not gonna be out consuming alcohol that night, just to keep an eye on you all. It shouldn't have to be that way, but sometimes, you know, by putting these little um little things into force, it can really help with future public safety. And the other thing would be, you know, if you're out and somebody offers to buy you a drink, go to the bar with them, watch it being poured, and of course, always cover your drinks because now in this day and age, it's so easy for somebody to distract you, um, even ask you what the time is, get you to look at your phone. They could easily slip something into your drink. So if you've got a drink cover over it, it's just gonna put that little extra layer of safeguarding there for you.

SPEAKER_00 19:56

So then, Don, what would be one low-cost change venues could copy tomorrow?

SPEAKER_01 20:01

Venues could get online training, they could get drink protectors, they could put posters up in their bars, just something just to make sure that people know that they're aware. And, you know, if we train the bar staff, the door security, they're gonna know the typical signs and symptoms. They're the people that are working, that are not drinking and having fun. So they're there to keep an eye on you. So we know that the SIA now have got mandatory training. So it would be great if the bar staff would actually, you know, take some training as well. And here at Stamp Out Spiking, that's what we advocate for. The more we can educate, the more we can protect.

SPEAKER_00 20:43

And on before we conclude, is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners?

SPEAKER_01 20:49

Well, one thing that really upsets me, like after all of these years campaigning, like this last couple of years when I've been going out and I've been speaking to some youngsters, you know, I'm talking like 18 to 20 years old, and they've said, Oh, yeah, we don't really go out too much anymore. And I'm like, what? So, you know, this is let alone the victims of these crimes that I speak to that are then too scared to go out anymore. And the one thing that I'd love to share is that please do not let these perpetrators make you change your way of life. Like, you know, we know across Great Britain we're we're a nation of party goers, you know, when whenever there's an excuse for a party or to go out and have a drink and enjoy yourselves or go to a disco, go to a nightclub, like please do not let these perpetrators win. I want everybody to still go out and have a lovely time and enjoy themselves because we shouldn't be changing the way that we do anything in our lives. The only one thing I'd say is to cover a drink, and hopefully, one of these days we won't have. Do that because the more we can educate, the more that people we're gonna actually stop these crimes from happening. And so, yeah, my advice would be never change the way that you want to live your life. Go out and enjoy yourself and have fun and just take care and be aware that people are doing these invisible crimes.

Final Thanks And Sign Off

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Oh, Don, that's a fantastic advice and a very good reminder for our listeners. I have to say, Don, I could talk to you forever in relation to this particular subject. Thank you so much for joining the Analytical Zen Podcast and sharing your personal experience.

SPEAKER_01 22:37

Thank you very much for having me on.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in to an episode of the Analytical Zen Podcast. Be sure to join us next time and stay curious.