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Figures for England and Wales from the National Police Chiefs Council suggest that between September 2021 and 2022 there were 4,924 reports of spiking-related incidents in one year. However, the Ministry of Justice said that according to its latest figures for both countries, which date from November 2017 to November 2021, there were just 40 convictions.
In January, Home Office minister Sarah Dines said there were already several offences which covered spiking incidents and the government had not found "any gap in the law".
The Home Affairs committee had previously argued a specific offence would have several benefits, including increased reporting of incidents, facilitating police work by improving data and "sending a clear message to perpetrators that this is a serious crime".
Labour MP Diana Johnson, committee chair, said:
"Reporting is low, and prosecution rates are very rare indeed."
The Home Office said:
"We have concluded that there are already several offences which cover incidents of spiking, and we have not found any gap in the law that a new spiking offence would fill.
"We have therefore concluded that a new offence is not required and will not be bringing in new legislation."