Wales to Host First Night-Time Safety Summit as Spiking Figures Raise Concern
by CounterSpike on Oct 09, 2026
9 October 2026 – Wales is set to host its first summit on night-time economy safety next week, as new police figures highlight the gap between the number of spiking incidents reported and the number that lead to a charge. CounterSpike welcomes the event and the attention it brings to spiking in Wales and across the UK.
Key takeaways
- North Wales Police figures show 656 spiking-related incidents reported between January 2021 and September 2026, with eight leading to a criminal charge.
- Since January 2025, none of the 188 reported drink and needle spiking incidents in the force area have resulted in charges.
- Wales's first night-time economy safety summit takes place on Monday 12 October at the Royal Welsh Showground.
- Reporting quickly gives police the best chance of gathering evidence.
What the figures show
According to Nation.Cymru, figures released by North Wales Police on 2 October 2026 in response to a Freedom of Information request show that 656 spiking-related incidents were reported to the force between January 2021 and September 2026. Eight of those led to a criminal charge.
Since January 2025, none of the 188 reported incidents of drink and needle spiking resulted in charges. Nearly half of the cases were closed without a suspect being identified, and in 88 cases a suspect was named and the victim supported action, but the case was closed because of evidential difficulties. Campaigners say this amounts to one charge for every 82 reported incidents.
The report also notes that the issue is not limited to one area: Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner has warned that spiking is under-reported.
About the summit
The summit is organised by Stamp Out Spiking in partnership with Powys County Council and will take place on Monday 12 October, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells. Registration is free.
The programme will look at spiking and night-time safety more broadly, including how prepared venues are, how people can get help quickly when they feel unsafe, and how organisations across Wales can work together. It includes a multi-agency panel, an open Q&A and time for networking.
Speakers will include Dawn Dines, founder of Stamp Out Spiking, whose long-running campaign helped secure the new spiking offence; Figen Murray, who campaigned for Martyn's Law after her son Martyn Hett was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack; and Hayley Crawford, founder of the Ask for Angela scheme.
Closing the gap between reporting and justice
The figures from North Wales reflect a wider challenge. The Ministry of Justice identifies gathering evidence and identifying perpetrators as key barriers to prosecution in spiking cases. The Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, creates a specific offence of administering a harmful substance, including by spiking, which applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland once it comes into force.
A clearer law is an important step, but it works best alongside fast reporting, timely testing and venues that know how to respond.
Why reporting quickly matters
The Home Office spiking factsheet explains that some drugs leave the body in as little as 12 hours, so testing as soon as possible is important. The police test is the most effective way to find out whether someone has been spiked and is the official route for building a case.
If you think you or a friend have been spiked:
- tell someone you trust and alert venue staff or security;
- call 999 if you are in immediate danger or seriously unwell, or NHS 111 for urgent medical advice (in Wales, you can also contact NHS 111 Wales);
- report it to the police on 999 or 101 as soon as you can.
CounterSpike's role
CounterSpike shares the summit's aim of making nights out safer for everyone. Through PartySafe, the movement against drink spiking powered by CounterSpike, in association with Spike Aware UK, we bring together venues, festivals, universities, councils and families so that safety becomes normal wherever people go out. Our SpikeStixx drink spike tests give people a discreet way to check a drink in seconds, and we always encourage anyone who suspects spiking to report it to the police.
