FOI 0296-2025/26- Needle spiking

Request:

Q1. The total number of reported needle spiking incidents received by your force from 1 January 2020 to the date of this request.

If possible, please provide a yearly breakdown for:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025 to date

This request is for the number of reports received by the force in relation to spiking via injection. "Spiking via injection" is defined as any incident in which someone is injected with drugs without their consent-also referred to as "needle spiking".

Response: 

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police. 

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1. Please see the table below showing the number of offences related to Op Lester (operation linked to spiking incidents) or have ‘needle’ and either ‘spike’, ‘spiking’ or ‘spiked’ in the MO remarks between 01 January 2020 to 09 July 2025, broken down calendar year.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.