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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Carroll

Police probing 'several reports' of spiking by injection at Scots student union

Police have launched a probe into "several reports" of spiking by injection at a Scots student union.

Officers received report of the incidents happening at University of Glasgow 's Queen Margaret Union on Thursday, October 28.

Those reports came on a day when a campaign had been launched to boycott nightclubs to demonstrate that women and others are "not comfortable going out so long as nightclubs are enabling spiking".

The UK-wide Girls Night In campaign was organised to encourage people to host flat parties or gatherings in safe environments on Thursday.

Police are investigating several incidents of alleged "spiking by injection" at Scottish venues (stock image) (Daniel Harkins/PA Wire)

However, it's believed "up to four" spiking by injection incidents at Queen Margaret Union were reported to officers on the same day, with the alleged victims said to have been "hospitalised".

Glasgow University student Aisling O'Hara raised the alarm and slammed the university for "not taking the reports seriously enough".

The 18-year-old said: "Last night, at least four people at the Queen Margaret Union were spiked. Four by injection were confirmed and hospitalised, the others are unconfirmed.

Student Aisling O'Hara has hit out following the alleged spiking incidents (Handout)

"This is outrageous, terrifying and a serious criminal offence, and although obviously the people who are spiking should be prosecuted for this, many of us feel as though the QMU itself should be held accountable.

"Although I can understand that most people wouldn’t assume this would happen in a student-only, presumably, environment, the union and the university are aware of the recent spiking events and should have taken the correct precautions for their own club spaces, not just sending the students an email about these incidents.

"We don’t feel safe, we don’t feel protected, we are terrified and we don’t feel as though this is being taken seriously enough."

It comes after cops opened a probe into a number of alleged attacks at bars and clubs related to drugging across Scotland.

Women have reported that they have been targeted in Stirling, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow in recent weeks.

Some have said they were spiked using injections and woke up with red marks on their back following nights out.

Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences student Aisling, originally from London, added: "What more should it take? At this point, it becomes more terrifying, since we now know that not only 'dodgy men in the club' are spiking us, but students from our own university.

"Boycotting clubs in Scotland tonight - and clubs in England yesterday - simply isn’t enough. Action needs to be taken because we are scared, angry and disappointed at the lack of measures taken to prevent this. We deserve better.

"We want to feel safe, we want to feel protected, and we want to be able to have fun without this looming fear and paranoia."

A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow admitted chiefs were concerned about reports of spiking across the country.

They said they will be working with police to investigate any alleged incidents.

The spokesperson said: “The University is extremely concerned about reports of spiking of drinks and by injection across the country. We want our community to feel safe as they enjoy their time in Glasgow.

“We are in contact with Police Scotland, other colleges and universities, as well as crimefighting groups across the city to review any incidents and provide help and support.

“The University is working with student bodies to encourage anyone who believes they have experienced or witnessed an incident to contact the police immediately and to seek support, including using the University’s SafeZone APP, which is monitored 24 hours a day by security staff.”

Officers said there enquiries into the reported incidents at Queen Margaret Union is ongoing - but as of yet, they say no criminality has been found.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received reports of alleged spiking by injection in Glasgow on Thursday, October 28.

"Officers are carrying out enquiries but so far no criminality has been established."

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