A BRADFORD MP has called for the “disgusting crime" of spiking to be a specific offence in law.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins questioned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on his position on the current laws covering spiking, in Parliament.

Spiking can be prosecuted under seven different laws currently.

Ms Cummins said after her exchange with the Prime Minister: “Spiking is under-reported and under-prosecuted.

“The law is confusing and outdated, and we desperately need a new law on spiking that is fit for the 21st Century.

“Instead of shirking obligations, the Prime Minister must ensure that the vital and well overdue report on spiking is published as soon as possible.

“Making this disgusting crime a specific offence under law would increase convictions and help keep people – especially women and girls – safe.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council told the Home Affairs Select Committee that “the absence of a clear criminal offence presented a challenge in policing spiking”.

In 2022, former Home Secretary Priti Patel stated that the Government was looking into "a specific criminal offence to target spiking directly". 

Evidence seen by the Home Affairs Select Committee shows that spiking is commonplace, with 15 per cent of women and seven per cent of men saying they have had been spiked.

The Telegraph & Argus revealed in September there have been zero charges and convictions for spiking by injection in West Yorkshire, despite more than 200 reports in almost two years.

But, in January, the Home Office carried out a ‘u-turn’ when Home Office Minister Sarah Dines said that a specific law on spiking was “unnecessary”.

The Government was legally required to publish its report on spiking by April 2023, but has so far failed to do so.

In giving its reasons for the delay, the Government argued that it was once again rethinking whether a law on spiking is needed.

Challenging the Prime Minister in Parliament, Ms Cummins said: “The Government failed on their legal duty to publish a report on Spiking by April, stating that they were reconsidering ‘whether their rationale for not introducing a specific offence for spiking was sound’”.

She went on to ask: “Will the Prime Minister clarify when and if this spiking report will ever be published, and does he agree with me and colleagues right across this house that the only ‘sound’ approach to this issue is to create a specific criminal offence for spiking?’

Responding, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the issue “had been reviewed”.

He added: “My latest understanding is that the existing laws did cover the offence of spiking, but of course I am happy to ensure she gets a letter which explains this position.”