Spiking statistics shock licensees during latest WAVE training event in Salisbury
Licensees and bar staff in Salisbury say they were shocked by the statistics they heard about spiking at the latest Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) and Licensing SAVI training event to be held in the city.
The free training, which is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, show bar and pub staff how to recognise signs of customer vulnerability, helping to prevent violent crime, sexual offences, and harm linked to drugs or alcohol.
As part of the training, they were told about some of the statistics surrounding spiking. A recent report by Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University suggested that 90% of drink spiking incidents are not reported to the police and that in 2023, around 2.2% of the population had had their drink spiked. The last set of national police data collected in 2022/2023 showed that police received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023, 957 relating to needle spiking.
It was explained during the session that drink spiking isn't just drug related, but also includes drinks where additional shots had been added and examples where alcoholic drinks had been ordered instead of a non-alcoholic versions.
During the discussion, one licensee spoke about their experience of being spiked while they were on holiday and how it left them with little recollection of the previous day.
Ed Halford is the general manager of the Hettie Bells in Salisbury:
"The stats about sexual assaults on women, spiking and the lack of reporting is horrific.
"Something has got to change in the night time economy to make sure we can get that changed and I feel this training is really helping"
During the training the licensees were told what to do if there was a spiking incident at that their venue and how to preserve evidence for the police.
Sarah McCall is supervisor at the Market Tavern in Salisbury:
"Finding out what to do if someone is spiked and what to do to be more on the ball to help the police was useful.
"The stats are quite shocking. The spiking cases were a lot higher than I thought and the reporting was a lot lower."
The training also covered awareness of the 'Ask for Angela' scheme, which is active in many venues across Wiltshire and Swindon.
The scheme allows customers to discreetly signal for help if they feel unsafe.
Eren Bessem is from the Safer Business Network, which runs the WAVE Training:
"Delivering WAVE training in Wiltshire has been a brilliant opportunity to strengthen local safeguarding and support frontline teams.
"The commitment from partners across the county has been outstanding, and it’s clear there’s a real drive to create safer spaces for everyone. WAVE gives staff the confidence to recognise vulnerability and respond effectively, and it’s been inspiring to see how positively people have engaged with the training, especially during the 16 Days of Activism.”
WAVE and Licensing SAVI training is one part of a new ‘Getting You Home Safe’ campaign which focuses on the collective responsibility to ensure a safe night out for those celebrating this December.
Initiatives include uniform and plain clothed officer patrols, taxi marshals, street wardens and volunteers such as Night Angels and Street Pastors providing reassurance and assistance.
The campaign also encourages people to plan ahead, look out for each other, and use personal safety apps to stay connected. Advice on safe travel is available through Wiltshire Police’s Travel Safe webpage, Swindon Bus Company’s winter safety tips, and guidance from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. People travelling over the festive period will also be able to send a text message to the British Transport Police directly and discreetly on 61016, in order to report non-emergency crime or concerns.
Earlier this year, Mark Johnson from the Goddard Arms in Swindon took part in the WAVE and Licensing SAVI training:
"If someone's been left on their own, don't know where they are and need to get a taxi home, they get ignored and then they get in a fight with someone over a taxi. Or they've had too much to drink to be left on their own and no-one's looking after them, that's an escalation from where someone could have had a chat with them and checked they're ok.
"It's a bit of safety and a bit of security (for the customers) because they know the door staff are there, but if they know the bar staff who are WAVE trained are on shift as well, they feel a bit safer."
Ian Shuttleworth is from Licensing SAVI:
“We think that every venue has the ability to achieve a five-star rating under Licensing SAVI, and for venues which don’t initially have that rating, we’re on hand to help them make the necessary changes to improve the safety of their premises.
“By supporting venues to focus upon improving safety at night, we look forward to seeing a growing number of Licensing SAVI accredited venues in Salisbury and the wider area".
Published Friday 28 November 2025