New Police Scotland data shows there have been a number of drink spiking attacks in Edinburgh in recent months.
The figures show the number of victims of spiking incidents this year topped previous record level across Scotland.
The Daily Record report that 152 cases of drugs being added to drinks or injections with syringes were investigated by police, in the first ten months of this year.
This is compared to 36 incidents in 2020, 43 in 2019 and just 16 in 2015.
Attacks have been reported in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Stirling in recent months.
All together fifty-one people in Scotland reported having been injected and a further 69 had their drink spiked. In the remaining 32 cases police were unable to establish how they had been drugged.
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Most of the victims – 128 – were women but 22 men were also targeted. The gender wasn’t specified for two people.
Spiking leaves most people unable to remember what happened on their night out and they can fall seriously ill.
Victims who have been injected report discovering puncture marks and bruising on their backs, arms and legs.
Police said it’s not clear why the attacks were carried out, but 15 out of the 152 cases had a sexual motive. Spiking can also be used to assault or rob someone or as a prank.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “We continue to investigate reports from people having been ‘spiked’, either with a needle or in their drink.
“We are not always able to determine the reasons why a perpetrator carries out an assault in this way but would like to reassure you that every report is taken seriously and perpetrators are dealt with swiftly and robustly. We are working with partners to ensure licensed premises are safe spaces for all.”
Since 2015 there have been a total of 328 spiking cases across Scotland, with 70 arrests or detections. It’s thought that prescription drugs such as tranquillisers or sedatives are injected or added to drinks.
Sunshine On Leith star Kevin Guthrie, 33, was jailed in May for three years for sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman at the Glasgow home of Still Game actor Scott Reid. The actress had fallen ill earlier in the day and believed her drink had been spiked.
Scottish Labour’s Pauline McNeill has written to Chief Constable Iain Livingstone and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC to demand action.
She said: "We need to get to the bottom of why there has been such a dramatic rise in these spiking incidents.”
Scottish Conservative Russell Findlay said: “This reveals a worrying rise in despicable crimes of this type. Everything should be done to stamp out spiking and ensure people are safe to socialise.”
Several universities, including St Andrews, plan to increase security and surveillance at their licensed premises.
