No increase in needle doping allegations, Thames Valley police say

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Claims of needle tips in the Cherwell area have not increased as no evidence has been found to support this claim according to police investigations.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber responded when asked to address an issue that has made headlines in recent weeks.

Bicester town mayor Nick Mawer, a father of two currently in college, said he found the information about needle tips very worrying.

Read more: Three peaks reported in Oxfordshire

He explained that no specific incident was brought to his attention but “that does not mean that they did not take place”.

“It’s a complicated business. I also think that some people might not realize what happened to them or when it happened. I wouldn’t want people to be too alarmed because I think this is still a rare occurrence. Added Mr. Mawer.

According to Councilor Andrew McHugh, during a conversation with the local police commander in Cherwell, they had reports of a “large group” of recent allegations.

He asked Mr Barber if the significant increase in the needle point allegations showed a real increase in crime per se or if it reflected a previous underreporting.

Mr. Barber replied that this is a ‘really difficult [issue] to try to understand, there is a complexity around the potential underreporting and overreporting. ”

According to Mr Barber, since the first report on needle tips in Scotland, they have received some allegations.

He said: ‘We have certainly seen reports of needle tips in areas of the Thames Valley, there was the first report in Scotland in September or October which made the news and since then we have have received allegations locally.

“We are not necessarily seeing a huge increase in the number of cases where we find evidence of it as a result of an investigation, but we cannot be complacent and actively encourage anyone who has concerns to report them and trust that these cases are properly examined. We have test kits available and we are continuing these investigations.

“This trust is incredibly important and there could be some horrific incidents that we could miss if people don’t have that trust.

“What we haven’t seen yet is the increase in sexual assault associated with the nighttime economy that you might imagine. Without wanting to be too cynical, people don’t buy drinks for the fun of it.

“It has not yet been the case and I hope it will remain the case. ”

Read more: Police investigate needle attack at Oxford nightclub

Needle doping is an offshoot of drink doping where people are bitten without warning and injected with drugs in high traffic areas such as nightclubs.

Opinion on needle tips is divided. Many experts believe that the prospect of successfully injecting someone with enough substance to affect them without realizing it is highly unlikely, suggesting that there is more credibility in cases of doping of the drink.

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