Cardiff Uni releases a report on spiking including what to do if you’ve been spiked

Cardiff University have released a report following a recent increase in spiking incidents.

The report includes what to do if you or a friend has been spiked, how to prevent being spiked and schemes put in place to help you get home safely on a night out. We have also consulted the SU’s safety report too which includes information about what Y Plas will be doing to make students feel safer and prevent spiking whilst in the SU.

Things you can do to prevent being spiked, according to the report are not accepting drinks from other people, not leaving your drink unattended and using the bottle stoppers for your VKs available at any SU bar for free.

If you or your friend has been spiked, this is what the university has recommended you do:

1. Content the emergency service on 999 if you are in immediate danger.
2. If you are not in immediate danger, report it to South Wales Police on 101 or via email; [email protected]
   If you are at a bar or club, report to a member of staff who will help you (the SU has spiking kits that you can use if you think you have been spiked).
3. If you are injured or are worried about being spiked, call 111.
4. If you think you have been sexually assaulted, go to the nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC). You can find the nearest one to Cardiff University here.

Spiking symptoms include lowered inhibitions, loss of balance, feeling sleepy, confusion, vomiting and unconsciousness, but this can vary depending on the drug used,

If you feel unsafe at any point in the Cardiff, there are two schemes in place to help you get home. First, there is the Dragon Safe Taxi Scheme, which if you show the driver you student card, they will pick you up and take you home for free, no matter where you are in Cardiff. You have to pay the SU back for the ride at a later date. You can also use the SWP Safety Bus which patrols the city centre every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night.

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story, please head to Drinkaware for more information on drink spiking. You can call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or find help via their website.

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