Calls for tougher spiking laws after 58 suspected cases recorded

The Sexual Violence Centre Cork says a specific criminal offence would raise awareness and encourage more victims of drink spiking to report incidents

Sexual Violence Centre Cork is calling for spiking to become a standalone offence.

A Cork sexual violence support service has called for a standalone offence of spiking to be introduced after almost 60 incidents were recorded by gardaí last year.

The Sexual Violence Centre Cork said the introduction of a specific offence would raise awareness of spiking and encourage more victims to come forward.

Currently, spiking by either injection or by putting a substance in a drink is an offence under the Non-Fatal Against the Persons Act 1997. The programme for government promised the introduction of “stronger laws to combat the spiking of drinks”.

Garda figures show 58 incidents involving the suspected spiking of drinks with alcohol or drugs were recorded in 2025. However, the centre believes the true figure is significantly higher.

Data from the country's sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) published last month showed 209 of the 1,021 people who attended the six units countrywide in 2025, or 19%, expressed concern they may have been spiked.

The call follows the introduction earlier this year of new legislation in the UK creating a standalone offence for administering harmful substances, including through spiking.

Sexual Violence Centre Cork spokesperson Mary Crilly said spiking had been occurring for decades but the time was now right for a specific criminal offence.

She said a standalone offence would help raise awareness, improve reporting rates, and allow authorities to better track the scale of the problem.

Ms Crilly pointed to stalking legislation as an example, saying reports had increased after stalking became a specific offence.

“I would have come across spiking 30-40 years ago, so it is nothing new," she said. 

"But I think now that the time is right to change the legislation where people are more aware.

“We want people to realise the extent of it and how debilitating it is for people.

"We were very involved in the stalking campaign, for example. Once stalking became a standalone crime, more people reported it, more people go for court orders and the gardaí can now count better because it is a standalone crime."

Ms Crilly said spiking was being done through a game called 'Take Them Down', where victims see their drinks spiked purely for entertainment.

“A lot of people who are spiked are silent about it because they really doubt themselves and they don’t want to make a big deal."

Ms Crilly said many victims remained reluctant to report suspected spiking because they doubted themselves or did not want to draw attention to the incident.

While spiking has long been linked to sexual offences, she said it was "more endemic" now, amid concerns it was increasingly being carried out "for the laugh, or for entertainment.

Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide said the Government should work with Sexual Violence Centre Cork and others “with frontline expertise to close the gaps in the current system".

Spiking is a deliberate violation of a person’s bodily autonomy and can leave someone extraordinarily vulnerable to sexual assault, robbery, or other harm.

“The law should recognise the seriousness and distinct nature of that offence.

"Legislation must be matched by a proper response when somebody believes they have been spiked."

Labour Party senator Laura Harmon said new spiking legislation needed to be introduced urgently by the Government.

“The Government have been too slow at bringing in this legislation and they need to get a move on.

“This is about protecting vulnerable people and clamping down on predators.

"With the new college term about to begin, it is so important that we also protect young people and students from these predators.

“It is important to note that this can affect anyone of any age and it’s alarming to hear how prevalent it is.”