WOMEN revellers are being advised to keep a close eye on their drinks this weekend after a party-goer claimed she was sexually assaulted after having her booze spiked.
The victim was dazed and distressed when she reported the incident following a party at Barlow, north Derbyshire. She told officers she had left her drink unattended and had then been the victim of a sexual attack.
Derbyshire Police have since inves
tigated the report and found "no evidence to substantiate the allegation" but it has prompted them to renew a warning concerning spiked drinks.
"We are now reminding party-goers, particularly women, to be alert to the danger of people using date-rape drugs," said a police spokesman.
"Anyone who suspects their drink has been spiked should seek immediate help from bar staff or medical experts if their symptoms, which can include nausea, drowsiness, amnesia and unconsciousness, get worse."
Meanwhile, a six-month study involving Derbyshire and other forces, is aiming to highlight the problem of drug-assisted rape.
The project is set to investigate all allegations of drug facilitated sexual assault thoroughly - even when the victim does not wish to proceed with a criminal complaint.
Victims are being urged to make early complaints to police to increase the likelihood that forensic analysis is as accurate as possible.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Gee, Head of CID in Derbyshire and project leader, said: "There is currently no empirical data of this type of offence.
"There is a lot of talk and a lot of hype surrounding the issue of so called 'date-rape' and drug-rape in the media.
"The research that has been carried out shows that in fact alcohol remains the most commonly used form of drink spiking.
"What we are trying to do with this new study is to find out the extent of the problem of drug facilitated sexual assault across society."
