By David Young-
The Metropolitan Police Service is intensifying its efforts to tackle spiking across London, with operations spanning bars, clubs and the capital’s party boats including the use of new vape-spiking equipment.
Children as young as 14 have reportedly been admitted to hospital after cannabis products were placed in vapes in a case in south-east London, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, Ben Russell, said.
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This technology, which has already been used in night clubs, festivals, concerts and schools, allows rapid testing of vapes suspected to contain drugs such as THC or Spice. This is a growing concern for police after reports of vapes being tampered with, often shared between young people or handed out in social settings. In some cases, use of a spiked vape has led to hospitalisation.
Alongside this, the Met is assessing a range of different mobile drug testing equipment, which assist rapid drug identification – including near infra-red detectors that can quickly test a wide range of powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs, supported by a mobile phone app.
This is part of the Met’s improved approach to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) by using innovative technologies and tactics to secure justice for victims. Innovation is improving outcomes for victims and making London safer for women and girls, with the charge rate for VAWG offences tripling in the last three years.
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Spiking, where substances are surreptitiously introduced into someone’s drink, food, vape or body without consent is a premeditated and invasive crime. Between March 2024 and March 2025, the Met received over 2,000 allegations of spiking, around 150 every month – though the true scale of the crime is believed to be higher due to underreporting.
Spiking is believed to disproportionately affect women and girls, with 66% of victims in August 2025 being female. Offenders are most active in and around busy nightlife venues, with 17% of reports linked to Westminster and the West End.
The Met’s Marine Support Unit is leading Operation Albenga, working in collaboration with the Met’s licensing teams, drugs dogs, safer transport, and central Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team. The operation focuses on party boats along the Thames, which are popular with students during Freshers’ Week.
As a frontline policing unit, the Marine Support Unit are responsible for policing 47 miles of the River Thames, alongside any further waterways and bodies of water across London. Throughout Operation Albenga, the unit has been proactively patrolling party boats embarking and disembarking at Westminster Pier to identify and prevent offending taking place on the river.
Officers are conducting safety checks, engaging with partygoers, and using specialist vape spiking detection equipment – unique technology that enables rapid testing of vapes suspected to contain drugs. This is part of a wider toolkit officers are trialing, including early evidence kits for drink and drug testing.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, Ben Russell, said:
“Spiking is an abhorrent crime that we are tackling head on, whether it takes place in a nightclub, a private venue, or on the Thames. The ongoing trial of new vape spiking detection kits is just one example of how we are innovating to get ahead of offenders and better protect the public.
“This is part of our wider commitment under the VAWG strategy to protect women and girls across London. We are working with partners in licensing, education and the night-time economy to disrupt offenders, raise awareness and, crucially, support victims.
“If you think you’ve been spiked, please come forward -being spiked is never your fault – it’s always the fault of the perpetrator. The sooner we know, the more we can do to support you, collect evidence and stop dangerous offenders from targeting others.”
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips said:
“As students across the country enjoy Freshers Week, we are determined to tackle the vile crime of spiking.
“That’s why we are funding a national Spiking Intensification Week to raise awareness, support police forces to use innovative tactics, and encourage victims to report this crime.
“We are also working with bars, pubs and clubs to roll out specialist training for staff and introducing a new criminal offence for spiking to bring more perpetrators to justice.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Women in London deserve to be safe, and to feel safe – whatever time of day or night, and wherever they are in the capital, so I welcome fresh action by the Met to make women safer by tackling spiking across London’s bars, clubs and night-time venues.
“The Met’s V100 work, made possible by City Hall funding, is transforming the way the police tackle violence against women and girls, ensuring perpetrators who pose the greatest risk are arrested and convicted – protecting victims from the worst offenders and making our streets and city safer for everyone.
“The operations and new technology being used by the Met send a clear message that there is a zero-tolerance approach to spiking in London and we continue to work closely with a wide range of partners to make London’s night-time venues welcoming to women and a no-go-zone for perpetrators and those attempting to harm anyone enjoying a night out.”
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