The police have issued advice on how to stay safe from drink spiking, although there have not been any recent reports of these offences in the island.

It comes amidst recent stories in the UK of women being spiked on nights out, leading to ’Girls Night In’ boycotts of nightclubs to highlight the issue this week.

Noting that the festive period is approaching, the police said: ’Drink spiking, where someone adds drugs or alcohol to another person’s drink without them knowing is illegal.

’Whether it’s done as a prank or to commit a criminal offence, here are some ways to avoid this happening to you and your friends.’

Their advice is to:

l Never lose sight of your drink. Do not leave it unattended when you go to dance or to the toilet.

l Be vigilant if you’re drinking with people you don’t know or have just met.

l Be a drink buddy. If you’re out with a friend or friends, keep an eye out for them.

l Throw away your drink if you think it tastes odd and make the venue management aware.

l If you think you have been spiked, or you start to feel strange, sick or drunk when you know that you couldn’t be drunk, seek help from a friend or again the venue management.

People may not be able to tell if their drink has been spiked by the smell or taste of it, or if they have been injected [with a syringe].

More information on how to stay safe is at www.talktofrank.com/news/spiking.

The police statement concluded: ’Spiking is an issue that should not exist.

’Here in the island we take any offences of this nature seriously and would encourage any person who believes they have been a victim of ’spiking’ to report it. The constabulary always monitor trends to be prepared and we are working to our local licensees to make sure this isn’t something that takes hold in the island.’