THERE have been zero charges and convictions for spiking by injection in West Yorkshire, despite more than 200 reports in almost two years.

The information was revealed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to West Yorkshire Police.

There were a total of 227 reports to the force of spiking via injection from September 2021 until the end of July 2023.

This included 187 from September 2021 to September 2022. Police received 40 reports from last September to the end of July this year.

There were eight arrests throughout this time.

This represents only three-and-a-half per cent of all reports in the data.

The recorded crimes began to rapidly increase into the autumn of 2021 and over Christmas and New Year.

There were none reported in September 2021, before a huge rise to 22 in October and then 39 in November – the month with the most recorded spiking injection crimes.

This trend then heads downwards, with 29 in December 2021, 20 in January 2022, 12 in February, 14 in March, 12 in April, 14 in May; before halving to seven reports in June.

In August 2022, there was a peak at 13 reports - but this dropped to four in September.

The amount of recorded crimes did not rise above seven in any of the subsequent months.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “The issue of drinks spiking has been one West Yorkshire Police has been alive to, recording and investigating for a number of years now.

“Following the increase in drink spiking and spiking through injections offences, West Yorkshire Police have responded quickly with partners and created a dedicated multi-agency co-ordinated response under Operation Jeanhaven.

“This approach is supported by Health, the dedicated community safety partnerships, education providers and other key partners including licensing and pubs, clubs, and bars and across the night-time economy in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

“The aim is to safeguard the public and protect against this offending and bring those responsible to justice.

“Offending can take place against women and men in a wide variety of scenarios including domestic situations in which an attempt is made by a person to harm another known to them, and in the night-time economy.

“This kind of offending in the night-time economy has of course come to prominence as part of the wider debate around violence against women.

“The issue of women’s safety is rightly a key national and local issue and we do understand the genuine safety concerns that women have.” 

To report a spiking incident, people can contact West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or go online.

You should always dial 999 in an emergency.