PCC John Campion has provided more than £9,000 to provide drink spiking training and prevention devices to the counties across West Mercia.
Each local policing area, South and North Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, have all put in money from their area funding. The PCC has matched their contribution to try and tackle the issue of drink spiking in the towns and cities across the force area.
Exploitation and Vulnerability Trainers have been busy over the past few weeks, upskilling the night time economy staff including door and bar staff. Training has included how to spot signs of drink spiking, and what the symptoms could be if someone has been spiked and how to deal with the situation.
This training, alongside the purchase of 90,000 bottle spikey devices and 50,000 drink covers, hopes to offer some reassurance to the community. It is hoped these should help lead the way towards a societal change and provide some comfort to those visiting the bars and nightclubs that the staff are there to help and are aware of the signs.
Commissioner John Campion said “I am pleased to support the residents and those who visit and use the nightlife hotspots throughout the counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire with this additional funding.
“People should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without fear of what might happen to them. I hope these new measures will offer reassurance that West Mercia Police and I are responding to public concerns. I hope this training to the staff at venues alongside the preventative devices goes someway to reassuring the community.”
Chief Superintendent Paul Moxley said “We welcome the support from our Police and Crime Commissioner in helping with our work to target those who may seek to exploit others looking to enjoy a night out.
“The additional funding will complement our existing work to target offenders and to send a strong message to those who may seek to exploit others that the police, door staff and bar staff will be watching their behaviour and taking action to stop them .”
