A woman who has worked in the nightclub industry for over 25 years has spoken out about a notorious crime that she regularly sees.
Tania Follett, 56, who works on the door at Apres nightclub in Bracknell said that she has seen the issue of spiking in clubs go from bad to worse throughout her career.
"I have been working in the Night-time economy for over 25 years, which led me to start my own security business, currently I have been running my company for 22 years," Ms Follett said.
"Within those years I have been passionate about keeping people safe within that space and have always tried to educate and promote Spiking issues within the clubs I have worked at.
"A few years ago, I became one of the Ambassadors for the charity Stamp Out, Spiking, where Dawn Dines CEO has been instrumental in campaigning for the law to be changed making spiking a crime."
Ms Follett said that throughout her time working at nightclubs, she has heard some awful stories of both women and men being spiked.
Women often explained to her that they had been spiked at other venues but didn't report it at the time as they felt nothing would be done.
"The awareness just isn't there at clubs, pubs and festivals," Ms Follett said. "More people need to understand the signs of spiking and take it more seriously.
"Often people may appear really drunk, but they're not they have been spiked."
Ms Follett even used to pay for preventative spiking products to give out to people on nights out.
"I just think it's such a heinous crime," she said. "Why would you do that to someone? Alcohol is the most common form of spiking.
"Buying someone more alcohol than they've asked for, like getting them a double instead of a single is spiking in itself."
Ms Follett also said that she finds a lot of people have been spiked through vapes that have THC in them.
People also may spike others through dropping drugs into their drinks, or even through injection. "There is a whole host of ways people spike others," she said.
"You have to ask the question, why would you do that? And there is a predatory element to it, date rape is huge, and crimes against women too obviously. And men as well."
She also said that she has heard of people being spiked as a 'prank' by friends.
Ms Follett relayed that 97% of people who have been spiked do not report what happened to them.
"We're not knuckle dragger bouncers like some people see us," she continued. "We are really here to do a job and to look after people."
Ms Follett approached various business owners in Bracknell to educate them on spiking and the signs to watch for.
"The landlords that I have approached are happy to display posters and have actually bought products to help stop spiking," she said
"This in turn shines a light on how seriously they take their duty of care."
There are multiple products you can buy for example StopTopps which are foil lid drink protectors, Spikey Bottle Stoppers to keep you safe on your nights out.
Ms Follett is currently campaigning for more people to learn about spiking facts and what to look for if they think your drink has been spiked or they become unwell.
"Spiking is not just about having your drinks spiked, there are other methods of spiking. Stamp Out Spiking 2024 Victims Journey Survey found that 84 % of spiking cases were through drink Spiking," she said.
"Other methods of spiking, such as needle and vape spiking have seen an increase in prevalence during recent years."
The CEO of Stamp Out Spiking Dawn Dines has campaigned for over two decades for changes to be brought into law and now Keir Starmer has reiterated plans for spiking to become a specific offence, as he hopes a change will give people “the confidence to come forward”.
The Prime Minister also laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year.
He made the comments in a meeting of police bosses, transport figures, and hospitality executives in Downing Street in November 2024.
Ms Follett's company Empire Security Solutions Ltd also supplies drugs detection dogs and one of her team has recently been trained and certificated with her dog as an anti-spiking dog.
"This is a service I will be offering to establishments in the lead-up to Christmas and going forward in 2025," Ms Follett said.
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